NATIONAL NION U NI ENT Castillo de San Marcos NATIONAL MONUMENT

The well-preserved Spanish fortifications in Saint Augustine which played a major role in the Spanish-English struggle for the Southeast (1650-1750).

When conquered and colonized the a unified nation. When Columbus sailed rich country, this land of , again in 1493, thousands of men were free to being close to the route of the Spanish treas- follow him to fame and fortune. By 1574 ure ships, was coveted by France and Eng- there were some 200 towns in tropical Amer- land. Spain's power in Florida was cen- ica, exporting hides, hemp, , , sil- tered at St. Augustine, and Castillo de San ver, and . Marcos was the symbol of that power. By contrast, North America was a wilder- The slipped from Spain's grasp. ness. In 1561, King Philip forbade new tries But the grim Castillo, battered and besieged, at colonizing it. still mirrors those days of pikeman and mus- Why, then, did a French colony named keteer. It is the real thing. Strong-stand- Fort Caroline, planted in Florida in 1564, ing walls, historically significant, bring the on the St. Johns River, change the course of past into the present, so that all may see— events ? and understand. Like a menacing dagger, the Florida penin- sula thrust toward the heart of Spain's wealth. The Spanish Fleet Richly loaded sailed along the Flor- Castillo de San Marcos was the northern- ida coast in convoy for protection against most outpost of a vast in the pirates. They followed wind and current in . Today, for half the people a great circle route, from Spain westward to of this hemisphere Spanish is the mother the Caribbean, then from , past Flor- tongue. ida and eastward to home. To the Spanish, The Americas were discovered at just the Fort Caroline was a nest of pirates. So in right time for the Spanish. After years of 1565 they destroyed it. They established fighting Moorish invaders, Spain was at last their own colony—St. Augustine—making

The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the for the benefit and inspiration of its people. U S. A. TO SPAIN t,aiuLs, ROUTE OF THE ST. AUGUSTINE SPANISH TREASURE FLEETS GULF OF A TLANT IC °

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Florida a haven rather than a threat. That But in Virginia, the English gained a foot- colony survived flood, fire, and famine, to hold on the Spanish-claimed continent. grow for a time into the capital of a vast English traders, turning Indian enemies into wilderness domain. allies, crumbled the Spanish defense. Eng- lish pirates again sacked St. Augustine in 1668. A Link in the Caribbean Defense Chain The settlement of Charleston in 1670 brought the English still closer to Florida. Sir Francis Drake's raid upon St. Augus- To build a permanent defense against tine in 1586 was a sign of the times—Eng- these enemies, Queen Mariana of Spain at land's determination to destroy the Spanish last ordered money sent from Mexico City. monopoly in the New World. No Spanish ship or settlement was safe. Spain tightened Building the Fort the convoys and built massive forts at key harbors in the Caribbean. Construction of the Castillo began in 1672 St. Augustine, no wealthy seaport, had lit- and lasted until 1696, almost 25 years. tle more than palisaded earthworks. Its real Walls 30 feet high and up to 12 feet thick protection were the Franciscan priests, pa- were built of a native shellstone called co- tiently making converts among the Indians. quina (ko-KEE-na) . Mortar was made from It was realized that natives friendly to Spain shell lime. The labor crew, in addition to would be unfriendly to Spain's enemies. the Spanish artisans, usually numbered about The Castillo.

100, mostly Indian draftees. Day wages Carolinas (in 1686 and 1706) and Georgia ranged from $3 for the engineer, to 12 1/2 (in 1742) began here. It was the target for cents plus rations for Indian labor. death-dealing raids by pirate, Indian, or Eng- The Castillo was a good fort, and a hand- lishman in 1683, 1704, 1728, and 1743; it some one. Its white-plastered walls stood was besieged in 1702 and 1740. Six serious on the site of an old Indian midden (shell threats inside of 60 years ! heap), near the town and opposite the harbor The baptism of fire came in 1702, during mouth, so that travelers by land or sea had Queen Anne's War. South Carolina's Gov- to pass under its guns. A symmetrical or ernor James Moore with 500 men seized St. regular - fort in the style developed by Italo- Augustine and unsuccessfully besieged the Spanish engineers, it was well armed, and fort for 50 days. Before Moore left, he set garrisoned with about 100 men. fire to the town. Later, the Spanish ringed the town with strong earthworks to keep out An Impregnable Fort in Its Day raiders. Moore also destroyed the Spanish missions Between 1650 and 1750 the Southeast was of Florida and carried off 1,400 Indians as in turmoil, and the Castillo was the hub slaves. The missions never recovered, nor of the action. Spanish forays against the did . For now the French on the Mississippi separated Florida from Mex- ear. The pickled ear, shown to Parliament, ico. The English were pushing into the decided Britain on war—the War of Jenkins' Georgia country. While engineers were Ear. modernizing the fort, building bombproof The Founder of Georgia, James Ogle- rooms in 1738-39, hostile Indians were thorpe, swore to take St. Augustine or leave ranging to the very walls. "You know the his bones before its walls. From Fort Fred- terror men feel," wrote the Spanish governor, erica, Ga., he set out in 1740 with a Georgia- when they even hear the name of Florida." Carolina attack force of 900 men and a fleet The province was a powder keg. The of 13 vessels. Awaiting him at St. Augustine spark to set off the explosion came from an were 4 swift galiots in the harbor, and 750 English vessel off the coast. men under Col. Manuel de Montiano, the Governor. The War of Jenkins' Ear While the British fleet blockaded the har- bor to starve the Spaniards, English gunners Spain allowed only Spanish trade with her shelled the town, thinking to drive the popu- colonies. Many British ships were seized as lation into the fort, where their cries would smugglers. One skipper claimed that Florida demoralize the defense. But as the Castillo Spaniards boarded his ship and cut off his alarm bell rang, the 2,000 townspeople,

The gunners' storeroom. Bridge leading into the fort.

The courtyard. instead of fleeing to the fort, simply moved prisoned at the Castillo. Confederate forces out of range ! There would be no refugees occupied it briefly, but left before Federal to distract the soldier-defenders. troops arrived in 1862. The last real military The fort suffered only slight damage. A use was as a prison during the Spanish- Spanish sortie destroyed a camp of Scotch American war (1898-99) . In 1924, Castillo Highlanders. Oglethorpe gave up after the de San Marcos was established as a national defenders, desperate from hunger, fought monument by Presidential proclamation un- through the blockade to fetch food from der the jurisdiction of the War Department. Havana. In 1933, it was transferred to the National Two years later, a Spanish reprisal was Park Service. turned back near Georgia's Fort Frederica. The War of Jenkins' Ear was a war of fail- About Your Visit ures, both here and in the Caribbean. The Included in Castillo de San Marcos Na- real decision was delayed until the Seven tional Monument are the masonry fort, sur- Years' War (1755-62) , wherein Britain rounded by moat and outworks, and the city ousted France from North America and at gate which once formed part of the old town last gained Spanish Florida by treaty (1763). wall. A small fee is charged for entrance to the fort ramparts, rooms, and museum exhib- Under Four Flags its, which are open daily from 8:30 a. m. to The British period in Florida lasted only 5:30 p. m. Guide service is free. 20 years. Then another treaty turned Florida back to Spain. During the interval, the Related Areas American Revolution broke out, and although Other areas relating to colonial conflict in the Castillo was not in action, its British the southeast are Fort Matanzas National - such as Brig. prison held famous -rebels Monument near St. Augustine, Fort Caroline Gen. Christopher Gadsden, Lieutenant Gov- National Memorial near Jacksonville, Fla., ernor of South Carolina. and Fort Frederica National Monument near The second Spanish occupation of Florida Brunswick, Ga. (1783-1821) was marked by border unrest and an influx of Georgia and Carolina set- Administration tlers. Spain finally ceded the troublesome territory to the United States. Castillo de San Marcos National Monu- Through much of the 1800's, the fort was ment is administered by the National Park a military prison. In 1837, during the Semi- Service of the United States Department of nole War, the Indian leader, Wildcat, led an the Interior. A superintendent, whose ad- escape from here; in later years several hun- dress is Box 1431, St. Augustine, Fla., is in dred Indians from the Southwest were im- immediate charge.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fred A. Seaton, Secretary of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Conrad L. Wirth, Director SPANISH DEFENSES AT TO JACKSONVILLE BEACH ST AUGUSTINE 25.5 MILES Fort Mosa Defense Line (earthwork)

TO JACKSONVILLE 31 MILES

e 11, #A • S) NS' Ph'

TO GREEN COVE Hornwork Defense Line SPRINGS 27 MILES <<\ (earthwork) Ct)

CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS sto NATIONAL MONUMENT City Gate 4 TO ir FT MATANZAS 14 MILES MARINE LAND DAYTONA BEACH

Spanish Fortification (no longer visible)

1/4 1/2

SCALE IN MILES

TO PALATKA AND DAYTONA BEACH MAY 1956 NM-CDS-7013

Revised 1956 (Cover) The watchtower. U. 3. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1956-0-388998