The hurricane that struck 's northeast the coast looking for the French. On Sep­ for the march to St. Augustine. At the mark coast in September 1565 bore no colorful tember 5 they met and after a preliminary the Spaniards fell upon the defenseless female name and gave no advance warning skirmish, Menendez sailed off to the south to prisoners; 111 died but 15 were spared. of its coming. But for this interference of establish a base of operations that grew into nature, the history of this region might well St. Augustine. Twelve days later, Menendez heard that have been different, for it was here in the the second group of 350 Frenchmen had In the two weeks that aftermath of that storm that Spain quashed likewise halted at the inlet. Again there was the French attempt to control Florida and followed, each side a parley—this time with Ribault himself, began the continued occupation of this site. jockeyed for who saw the gruesome evidence position, for of the first massacre. Ribault they both knew returned and told his men everything. THE SPANISH-FRENCH STRUGGLE that a confron­ He advised surrender, for he be- Throughout the later 16th century, France tation must come. ieved, it appears, that the was wracked by religious warfare between Ribault reasoned . • Spaniards would show mercy. Catholics and Protestants (). In that it was best But during the night more than the hope of uniting his countrymen against to take the initiative half of his men fled south. a common enemy, Adm. Gaspard de Coligny, while he enjoyed numerical The next morning, leader of the Huguenots, sent Jean Ribault, The 16th-century was a creative, adven­ superiority. His plans were well-laid, October 12, Ribault and also a Huguenot, to establish bases within turous age of artistic brilliance, exploration, but his timing was disastrous, for the Spanish America in the name of the King his remaining men expansion, and nation building. It was also fateful hurricane wrecked and scat­ of France. His first attempt in 1562 at handed their battle flags a brutal age of war, religious fanaticism, tered his ships far down the coast. Charlesfort failed. A second expedition un­ to Menendez. and Machiavellian intrigue. Politically the The weather gave Menendez the der Rene de Laudonniere two years later era belonged to such figures as Philip II of chance he had hoped for. March- " As before, the Huguenots built on the St. Johns River. Spain, of England, and Sir Fran­ ing overland through heavy rains, were brought across the Such an act was an affront to the Spaniards, cis Drake. They fashioned the events of Menendez captured the enemy base. water and again the white for they regarded the settlement as trespass sands were their epoch and gave it its special character. on land they had discovered and explored. The fighting had just begun, however, for darkened with The political and religious rivalries of 16th- Just as repugnant to the Spaniards was the Ribault still had almost 500 men. In two blood. That day century Europe also permeated the New fact that almost all these French colonists groups, the French began marching up the 134 Frenchmen lost World. The drama played out in 1565 by the were Huguenots, for the Spaniards regarded coast toward Fort Caroline. The swift-flow­ their lives; 16 were French and Spaniards in desolate Florida is them as heretics. Fort Caroline also threat­ ing waters of the inlet at the south end of spared. Later, Menendez a significant case in point. The two principal ened the route of merchantmen and treasure , 22 kilometers (14 miles) sought out those who characters of the drama, Pedro Menendez galleons returning to Spain from the Carib­ south of St. Augustine halted the first group. had fled; most he de Aviles and Jean Ribault, typified both the bean via the Gulf Stream. And the French Meanwhile Menendez and 70 men made took to Habana rivalries and the values of the 16th century. already had a long history of plundering their way down the island to the shore op­ as prisoners. So did the issues—religion and territorial Spanish ships. To remove the twin menaces posite the French. of French encroachment and heresy, King Matanzas, which expansion. The bloody chapter written in Philip II dispatched Pedro Menendez de Famished and weary, informed of their fort's means slaughters, had the marshes and on the beaches of Florida Aviles, an able seaman and devout Catholic, capture, and tricked into believing the Span­ received its name. had wide ramifications both for the story of to settle Florida. ish force to be much larger, the French European expansion into America and the surrendered. On September 29, they were colonial development of Florida. The mas­ On August 28, 1565, Ribault arrived off the ferried ten at a time across the inlet, fed, sacres at Matanzas were a significant part mouth of the St. Johns River. That same day, and led behind the dunes, where their hands of that story.

Menendez made his landfall at Cape Canav­ were bound. About 60 meters (200 feet) The two smaller ships above are — John Jay TePaske eral, 250 kilometers (160 miles) to the south. down the beach Menendez drew a line in the French. They are from a map by , a member of Rene de Laudonniere's He immediately turned north and followed sand and then herded the prisoners together 1564 expedition. The large ship is a Spanish galh (Illustrations used by permission of the Viking Press.) THE SIEGE OF 1740 BUILDING THE TOWER ABOUT YOUR VISIT In 1733 Gen. founded the The British siege of 1740 convinced Gov. The park is 22 kilometers (14 miles) south of English colony of Georgia on land claimed Manuel de Montiano that he needed to have North of here about 61 kilometers (38 miles) St. Augustine and can be reached via Fla. by Spain. Hostilities were inevitable, and the more than just a wooden tower at Matanzas was Fort Caroline, the first full-scale attempt A1A on Anastasia Island. The park is open War of Jenkin's Ear between Spain and Eng­ Inlet. Had the British been able to seize that at colonization by the French. daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except De­ land gave him an excuse for attacking St. point, they would probably have been able cember 25. Admission is free. Augustine. On June 13, 1740, Oglethorpe to starve the city into surrender. Montiano began the siege of St. Augustine by block­ therefore ordered engineer Pedro Ruiz de The park consists of 121 hectares (298 ading the . Anticipating Ogle­ Olano to build a strong, stone tower. Crafts­ acres) on Rattlesnake Island, where the fort thorpe's attack, Gov. Manuel de Montiano men came from St. Augustine and convicts is located, and on Anastasia Island, where had sent a courier to Habana asking for sup­ and royal slaves did the heavy labor. Stone the visitor center is. Landing docks for small plies, for they had enough only for three was quarried on Anastasia Island. craft are at both locations. The fort is acces­ weeks. sible only by boat. A ferry crosses to Rattle­ Construction was difficult, for long piles had snake Island daily except Tuesday. A fine On July 7, a courier reached St. Augustine to be driven deep into the mud to support bathing beach and the surrounding waters and told Montiano that six supply ships were the rising stonework. Repeatedly the British offer a wide variety of water activities. at Mosquito Inlet, 110 kilometers (68 miles) and their Indian allies tried to stop construc­ The roots of sea oats extend into the further down the coast. He also told Montiano tion, but their efforts were in vain. By the Pedro Menendez de Aviles established the sand and prevent erosion. Individuals ADMINISTRATION that the British had withdrawn the vessel end of 1742, work was complete. Next year base camp that grew into St. Augustine who cut, break, or in any way destroy Fort Matanzas National Monument is admin­ blockading Matanzas Inlet, and the way ap­ the British attacked again, but heavy seas after his first encounter with the French the ecologically valuable sea oats are istered by the National Park Service, U.S. peared clear to provision the city. But simul­ foiled their efforts. They withdrew, never to near Fort Caroline. VH subject to fines and imprisonment. Department of the Interior. A superintend­ taneously, an English deserter reported that return. ATLANTIC ent, whose address is 1 Castillo Drive, St. Oglethorpe planned a night attack during St. Augustine was well located. It commanded Augustine, FL 32084, is in immediate charge. the next six days of unusually high tides, for TIMES CHANGE Do not swim in the treacherous waters near Though British plans to acquire Matanzas the entrance from the ocean and was the inlet or climb on the fort walls. Be wary the high water was needed to cross Matan­ As the Nation's principal conservation by conquest always failed, they did gain all surrounded by water on three sides. The of sharp oyster shells. Exercise caution and zas Bay and assault the Castillo. agency, the Department of the Interior has Florida by treaty in 1763. They, too, regarded only chink in its armor was Matanzas Inlet. use common sense so that your visit will be responsibility for most of our nationally Six days passed and no attack came, so Matanzas Inlet as the key to St. Augustine, If an enemy ship could cross the bar into a safe and happy one. Montiano sent five small vessels to Mosquito and usually kept seven soldiers and two the Matanzas River, it could confront the owned public lands and natural resources. Inlet to fetch supplies. Just as the ships cannon there, but no attacks came. Spain town at its southern end, or sail up the San This includes fostering the wisest use of our The marshy little island that Gov. Manuel de cleared Matanzas Inlet at 4 o'clock that had planned to capture Matanzas and ad­ Sebastian River and attack from the rear. land and water resources, protecting our Montiano and Pedro Ruiz de Olano chose afternoon, they met two British sloops that vance upriver to the fish and wildlife, preserving the environmen­ for the stone tower was naturally defensible were taking soundings. The sloops opened during the American Revolution, but these tal and cultural values of our national parks and only a short cannon shot from the inlet fire and took up the chase. The fighting con­ plans never materialized. and historical places, and providing for the channel. It was well-situated for defending tinued until twilight when the British sloops enjoyment of life through outdoor recrea­ St. Augustine's back door. returned to their squadron. Their withdrawal With the passage of time the tower began to tion. The Department assesses our energy fall into disrepair. By 1821 the interior was and mineral resources and works to assure gave the Spanish flotilla the opening they aughters is the English translation for I needed. They promptly entered Matanzas already in ruins, and the gun platform's east FORT MATANZAS OCEAN that their development is in the best inter­ wall and its foundation had cracked. Little NATIONAL MONUMENT Inlet, sailed up the river and docked at St. «atanzas. Here on September 29 and October' ests of all our people. The Department also interest was taken in the tower after the Augustine that same night to the joyous re­ 12, 1565, between 200 and 300 Frenchmen, has a major responsibility for American In­ United States took control. Blockade lief of the inhabitants. all Huguenots, were put to the sword In 1569 a wooden watchtower and a thatched dian reservation communities and for peo­ runners used Matanzas Inlet during the Civil by the Spaniards. These Frenchmen were hut were built at Matanzas Inlet to house six ple who live in Island Territories under U.S. Fearing the approaching hurricane season, War and for barely a decade the inlet was a less than half the force which had set out soldiers who took turns scanning the horizon. administration. the British fleet decided to sail for safer port of entry. This activity, however, had from Fort Caroline to attack Menendez at If a ship were sighted, a runner or a man waters. Lacking naval support and knowing little effect on the old tower for soon the St. Augustine. Their ships had been scat­ in a log canoe set out to warn St. Augustine. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE that the city was now well-supplied, Ogle­ area was abandoned. In 1924 the fort was tered and wrecked bv a hurricane. Watching and warning was the tower's task, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR thorpe raised the siege on July 20, 1740. designated a National Monument. for it lacked any armament. GPO 1990-262-097/00045 Reprint 1976