| ST.
AUGUSTINE'S SIEGE OF 1702
Submitted
by Linda Solana Brown from The Oldest City, The Castillo Years,
1668-1763. Authored by Jean Parker Waterbury
Tensions
between the British colony in Charles Towne and St. Augustine
were high in 1702. With the death of Charles II and the succession
of Philip V, the British feared the alignment of Spanish and French
power in Europe. Philip V was the grandson of the French king
which lead to naming the coming conflict, The War of The Spanish
Succession or Queen Anne's War.
St.
Augustine's Governor Zuniga sent an urgent request to the Council
of The Indies for supplies, arms and munitions. The city needed
the supplies to withstand the ever-increasing British forays into
Spanish Florida.
In
the beginning of November, Governor Moore of South Carolina decided
to attack St. Augustine before the French helped the Spanish with
reinforcements for St. Augustine. He pulled together several hundred
Indians and approximately the same number English troops.
On
November 10th, news of the impending attack reached St. Augustine,
the Governor still again wrote to the Crown for help and starting
planning for the defense of the settlement.
All
supplies from the corn harvest were stored in the castillo and
as the Spanish soldiers- turned- cowboys stampeded approximately
160 head of cattle through the British troops to the moat, the
Augustinians cheered from the ramparts of the castillo. Governor
Zuniga feared the British firing from nearby homes and ordered
buildings close to the castillo burned.
Governor
Moore realized after weeks of attack that the four cannons were
ill equipped to fire on the coquina structure and sent to Jamaica
for bombshells and mortars to throw over the walls. He also decided
in late November to burn more of the buildings along St. Francis
Street.
Four
sails were discovered on the 26th of November. These ships were
the supplies requested from the Governor of Havana.
The
British forces led by Governor Moore, didn't want to be sandwiched
between the new arrivals and the castillo and decided to turn
their prows to the Inlet.
The
gates were opened to allow the settlers to depart and see what
was left of their homes and belongings.
Our
descendants were very active in the events of the siege. Please
note the Governor's order to burn the city. The Escribano was
our own Juan Solana. The term escribano freely translates to scribe
or notary, a very important figure in colonial St. Augustine.
Governor Zuniga's Order in 1702 To Burn St. Augustine During the
Moore Siege
"In this royal fortress of San Marcos of St. Augustine, Florida,
on the eleventh day of the month of November of this year of one
thousand seven hundred and two, his honor Camp Master Don Joseph
de Zuniga y Cerda Governor and Captain General of this above said
city and its province by His Majesty:
Inasmuch
as the ground forces of the enemy have made their headquarters
and put their banners on the belfry of the convent of the Lord
St. Francis, the distance of a cannon shot from this royal fortress,
and the sea forces have been sounding the bar in order to bring
in their ships. And, in order that before they can accomplish
this and are able to join companies, it is necessary to prevent
beforehand the damage that can be inflicted on this royal fortress
if the enemy, in the strong two story houses that are a musket
shot from the fort, make some assaults under the protection of
them and the upstairs in order that from the latter, because of
a higher location, they can fire on the bastions and curtains
in this way. Since the danger at hand is such that all of the
above may occur, I order and command that it be made known to
the Sergeant Major of this plaza that beginning today he make
the necessary arrangements so that's tomorrow, the twelfth of
this month, a sally can be made, by brave men escorted by two
lines of musketeers, to fire all of the large and small houses
possible. In this way, by clearing the entire battlefield as much
as possible, the enemy cannot at its pleasure put it batteries
to this royal fortress. All of the exterior defenses, in front
of the ravelin, which his honor has ordered constructed are completely
finished today for the shelter and protection of those who may
enter and leave the moat and semi-lunes as also so that the light
horses that have been put in readiness do not run a single risk.
By this, his warrant, I hereby decree, order, and sign.
Before
the execution of this order and the burning of the said houses,
the above mentioned Sergeant Major, and the Adjutant Commander
of Orders whom his honor named by his decree of yesterday, the
tenth of the current month, Bernardo Nieto de Carvajal who is
the present Sergeant Major of this plaza, are to distribute and
pass out powder to all the other adjutants and officers. They
are also to notify and make known to all of the ones of the houses
immediate to this royal fortress that that his honor has ordered
to be carried out tomorrow, the twelfth of the present month,
in the event that they have left any possessions in their aforesaid
houses, that they go out to rescue them with the greatest safety
and in the best way that each one is able."
(signed)
Joseph de Zuniga y Zerda
Juan
Solana, Escribano
|
Los Floridanos Society