Fort Frederica Historic Site Report
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FORT FREDERICA HISTORIC SITE REPORT by Albert C. Manucy Historical Technician P&S 2 Castillo de San Marcos National Monument With Special Reports by C. R. Vinten Coordinating Superintendent Southeastern National Monuments and J. C. Harrington Superintendent Colonial National Historical Park Saint Augustine 1945 2 Plate 1 – Fort Frederica National Monument Location Map FORT FREDERICA NATIONAL MONUMENT GEORGIA 3 INTRODUCTION This study includes more specialized information than is usually found in a historic site report. We have attempted to put what we now know about Frederica—as well as things we do not know—between two covers. In so doing, our idea is to make readily available certain data that will be useful in developmental planning of the site. This is not a purely historical study. Reports by administrator, archeologist and historian are included. The text therefore contains information on several specific problems. For the reader interested only in certain sections of the study, we recommend the following suggestions: 1) read the table of contents carefully. It is almost an index. 2) For an excellent and brief over-all picture of the area, see Coordinating Superintendent Ray Vinten’s summary of the present status of Frederica. 3) Archeologists are referred particularly to Dr. J. C. Harrington’s “Recommendations for Archeological Research”, which also include stabilization suggestions. 4) The “Historical Narrative” is the story of the area. 5) “Technical Description” provides detailed physical description for the closer student. It is easy to see in Frederica more than a few tabby ruins and a naturally beautiful site. The historical narrative (based mainly on secondary sources because it is yet too early for a detailed study) is a picture of general relationships. It attempts to give perspective to Frederica, and to suggest in the development of the monument certain relationships to other units in the national park system. The “Technical Description of Frederica” required a word of justification. Hypothesizing is precarious indulgence for the historian. Yet, in this survey of 18th century fortification as it might apply to Frederica, we hope we have set down information that will enable the planners to do a better job. Our wish was to explore as far as we could, and if the archeologists trowel later proves some of our suggestions fantastic, still we feel obliged to mention them now. At the very least, perusal of the “Description” should give the reader a tangible picture of Frederica’s assets that for long have lain hidden beneath a tangle of military nomenclature. There is much meat— good, solid English beef—in even the apparently hypothetical paragraphs. Numerous illustrations are in the study for clarification. Perhaps these illustrations may also give impetus to the planning of an interpretive display at 4 Frederica during the early stages of Service administration. We refer especially to the plates in the narrative section. The more technical drawings are generally unsuitable for public display. In preparing this study we have labored under one serious handicap: the lack of a detailed, accurate topographical survey. Such a survey holds number one priority in the Frederica program. With that job once in hand, applications of the principles used here can be worked out more accurately and profitably. Additional time for study on the site itself, something that was not possible under present conditions, should also prove worthwhile. Steps have already been taken toward beginning the next part of the historical research program, by conferring with Mrs. Margaret Davis Cate, Service Collaborator, about detailed researches to obtain specific 18th century descriptions and ownership data for historic buildings and lots within the town area. On March 30, 1944, a memorandum entitled “Notes on Collecting Items for Frederica Museum” was sent to President S. Price Gilbert of the Fort Frederica Association, to be used as a guide in listing and collecting historic objects suitable for acquisition. Mrs. Cate, member of the Association’s museum committee, reported at the year that considerable progress had been made in listing available objects. We are also indebted to Mrs. Cate for a review of portions of the present text, for many helpful suggestions, and for the loan of valuable historical sources. Likewise useful in this study were loans of pictorial materials by Mrs. K. G. Berrie of Brunswick and Mrs. S. Price Gilbert of Sea Island, and the donation of maps by Glynn County Engineer Harold Friedman. A. M. NOTE: This is an electronic version of Fort Frederica's 1945 Historic Site Report. All mis- spellings, cross-outs, etc., are copied as is from the original document. Page numbers have been altered from original to reflect current navigation. Two of the images from the original report are missing and are noted on the List of Plates as "none". Denise Spear Cultural Resource Specialist Fort Frederica Natural Monument 2007 5 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................3 CONTENTS......................................................................................................................5 LIST OF PLATES ............................................................................................................8 AN INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT .............................................................................10 VINTEN’S REPORT ON THE PRESENT STATUS OF FORT FREDERICA NATIONAL MONUMENT ................................................13 I. Existing Conditions ................................................13 II. Lands ......................................................................14 III. Research .................................................................15 IV. Planning Policy ......................................................16 V. Administration and Maintenance ...........................17 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE.........................................................................................18 1. Guale—16th Century Georgia .......................................18 2. The Golden Age ............................................................24 3. The Fight Begins...........................................................28 4. Prelude to Georgia ........................................................34 5. Founding the Colony.....................................................37 6. Frederica—“The Trustees Thought It Prudent”-- .........41 7. The Issues Explained ....................................................52 8. Professional Diplomacy ................................................55 9. Oglethorpe Makes Ready..............................................62 10. The Drive into Florida...................................................65 11. The Invasion of Georgia ...............................................72 12. Bloody Marsh................................................................76 13. The Decoy .....................................................................79 14. “From Georgia to Augustine Again He Goes” .............82 15. Significance of the War.................................................83 16. Frederica’s Fate.............................................................85 17. Work of the Colonial Dames.........................................94 18. Conclusion and Evaluation of the Site..........................97 6 CONTENTS (Cont.) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF FREDERICA...................................... ..................98 1.The Fort .......................................................................................................98 1. Contemporary Descriptions of the Fort .............................98 2. Notes on the Citadel Site..................................................100 3. 18th Century Fortification.................................................105 4. Ramparts ..........................................................................109 5. Parapets ............................................................................114 6. Banquettes (Firing Steps).................................................115 7. Fraises ..............................................................................115 8. Bastions............................................................................116 9. Guns and Embrasures.......................................................117 10. Ditch.................................................................................120 11. Covert Way ......................................................................121 12. Palisades...........................................................................122 13. Gates and bridges .............................................................126 14. Sentry Boxes and Boghouses...........................................130 15. Powder Magazine.............................................................131 16. Storehouses and Other Fort Buildings .............................132 17. The “Spur-Work”.............................................................134 2. The Town ......................................................................................................137 1. Town Walls ......................................................................137 2. Bastions............................................................................144 3. Breastworks and Ditch .....................................................144