This brief outline of the history of one of the most interesting portions of our country, together with the sketches of the celebrated characters and memorable events which have rendered the town of St. Augustine famous throughout the world, is offered to the public in the hope and expectation that the information herein contained may supply the desire, felt by an ever-increasing number of its citizens and visitors, to be better informed as to the early history of a place so justly celebrated. T

A universal desire exists to learn the origin and history of our ancestors. Even before the art of writing was perfected, bards perpetuated the traditions of the early races of men by recitations of mingled facts and fables at the periodical assemblies. These peripatetics were ever welcomed and supported by the people, and doubtless preserved many of the facts of history. Unfortunately, among the Spanish knights, who at various times essayed the conquest of Florida, few were found to desert the

The honor of having discovered Florida has been assigned by different writers to Columbus, Cabot, and De Leon. In 1492, Columbus terminated his venturesome voyage across the Atlantic by landing at the island of St. Salvador, so called by the great Genoese explorer in remembrance of his salvation. It is said that from this island his people, on his return from Europe, ventured with him to the shores of Florida, being impressed, as were the Aborigines, with a belief that the continent possessed wa

In the next twenty years there were many captains who undertook voyages for the exploration and subjugation of Florida. It must be remembered that at this time, and until the beginning of the eighteenth century, the grand divisions of North America were known only as Florida and Canada. Diego Muruelo, a Spanish adventurer, by profession a pilot, is said to have sailed from Cuba, and returning with gold and precious stones obtained from the Florida Indians, spread glowing reports of the country.

Misled by the fabulous stories told of the wealth of Florida, and by the still more deceptive innuendoes in the account of De Vaca, and having before their eyes continually the immense treasures actually secured in Peru and Mexico, the Spaniards were satisfied that it only needed a force sufficiently large and ably commanded to secure to the conquerors even greater treasures in their northern possessions. They were, moreover, convinced that the Indian tribes would not defend, with such persisten

The Spaniards having thus far been unsuccessful in making a settlement upon the shores of Florida, the country was left open to any nation which should enter upon and colonize the territory. The Admiral Gaspard de Coligni, then at the head of the Protestant party in France, perceived with the sagacity of a statesman, the advantage of a colony in America composed of French Protestants. While increasing the dominion of France, and thus gaining its promoters honor and patronage, it would afford a r

Coligni and the Protestants had not forgotten the forsaken colony, nor relinquished their intention of providing a refuge in America. After two years Coligni succeeded in obtaining authority to send three ships to the succor of the colony in Florida. A company equal to the capacity of the ships quickly volunteered for the enterprise, of whom a large number belonged to families of good blood. Having been well equipped with arms, provisions, tools, and seeds for agriculture, the fleet sailed under

THE UNFORTUNATE EXPEDITION UNDER RIBAULT.—FOUNDING OF ST. AUGUSTINE BY MENENDEZ, 1565.—ATTACK UPON THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT ON THE ST. JOHNS RIVER. The Huguenots in France had not forgotten their friends in Florida, though the dissensions at home had turned their attention away from all but the plottings and schemings about them. Desiring to succor and strengthen the colony, Coligni had secured a fleet of seven vessels, four being of considerable size. These he placed in command of Captain Ribault,

Fearing lest Ribault should have escaped destruction in the storm, and returning, should make an attack during his absence, Menendez hurried back to St. Augustine. He took with him only fifty men, the rest being left under the command of his son-in-law, De Valdez, who was ordered to build a church on the site selected by Menendez, and marked by the erection of crosses. After the completion of the church, De Valdez was to use every effort to strengthen the captured fort. Arriving at St. Augustine

While Menendez was occupied in Spain in forwarding the interests of his colony, in France plans were being formed and a secret enterprise undertaken for an attack on the Spanish posts in Florida. Most inflammatory and exaggerated accounts of the massacre at Fort Carolin had been published throughout France. One account says of the Spaniards that, after taking the fort, “and finding no more men, they assailed the poor women, and after having by force and violence abused the greater part, they des

RETURN OF MENENDEZ.—ATTEMPT TO CHRISTIANIZE THE INDIANS.—ATTACK UPON ST. AUGUSTINE BY SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.—MURDER OF THE FRIARS. While these events were transpiring Menendez had completed his equipment, and sailed with a fresh supply of men and means for his colonies in Florida. His first information of the disaster which had overtaken his posts on the St. Johns was received after he arrived at St. Augustine. So humiliating a disaster as the capture of three of his forts well fortified and garriso

PLUNDER OF THE TOWN BY CAPTAIN DAVIS.—REMOVAL Of THE YEMASSEE INDIANS.—CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORT.—BUILDING OF THE FIRST SEA-WALL.—ATTACKS OF GOVERNOR MOORE AND COLONEL PALMER. The town of St. Augustine had continued to grow, and ninety years after its foundation was said to contain three hundred householders. This statement may be correct, as the town was afterward partly burned (1702), though Romans, more than a hundred years later, says there were not three hundred houses in his time. The paris

OGLETHORPE’S ATTACK.—BOMBARDMENT OF THE FORT AND TOWN.—CAPTURE OF THE HIGHLANDERS AT FORT MOSA.—OLD FORT AT MATANZAS.—MONTEANO’S INVASION OF GEORGIA. In 1740 Governor Oglethorpe of Georgia, being encouraged by King George II., determined to capture St. Augustine, and thus drive the Spaniards from Florida. At his request the Carolina colonies sent him a body of four hundred troops under Colonel Vanderdussen. He also equipped a body of Creek Indians, and in May had rendezvoused at the mouth of the

THE TOWN WHEN DELIVERED TO THE ENGLISH.—FORT SAN JUAN DE PINOS.—ST. AUGUSTINE AS DESCRIBED BY THE ENGLISH WRITERS 1765 TO 1775. Before the cession of the province, the fort had been completed, and presented, at the time it was delivered to the English, very much the same appearance as now. Many of the casemates had platforms about seven feet from the floor for sleeping apartments. The moat was about four feet deeper than at present, and the water battery was built in such a manner that the guns

THE SETTLEMENT OF NEW SMYRNA BY THE ANCESTORS OF A MAJORITY OF THE PRESENT POPULATION OF ST. AUGUSTINE.—THE HARDSHIPS ENDURED BY THESE MINORCAN AND GREEK COLONISTS.—THEIR REMOVAL TO ST. AUGUSTINE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE ENGLISH GOVERNOR. The proclamation of Governor Grant, and the accounts which had gone abroad of the advantages of the province, and the liberal policy adopted by the British in the treatment of colonists, induced some wealthy planters from the Carolinas to remove to Florida,

ADMINISTRATION OF LIEUT.-GOVERNOR MOULTRIE.—DEMAND OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE RIGHTS OF ENGLISHMEN.—GOVERNOR TONYN BURNING THE EFFIGIES OF ADAMS AND HANCOCK.—COLONIAL INSURGENTS CONFINED IN THE FORT.—ASSEMBLING OF THE FIRST LEGISLATURE.—COMMERCE OF ST. AUGUSTINE UNDER THE ENGLISH.—RECESSION OF THE PROVINCE TO SPAIN. Governor Grant’s administration lasted until 1771, when he returned to England suffering in health. Upon his departure the province was under the authority of Hon. John Moultrie, the lieu

RETURN OF THE SPANIARDS.—COMPLETION OF THE CATHEDRAL.—THE OLDEST CHURCH BELL IN AMERICA.—THE GOVERNOR’S DESIRE TO PEOPLE THE PROVINCE WITH IRISH CATHOLICS.—SOME OFFICIAL ORDERS EXHIBITING THE CUSTOMS OF THE SPANIARDS.—UNJUSTIFIABLE INTERFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES, DURING THE “PATRIOT WAR.”—FLORIDA AN UNPROFITABLE POSSESSION.—ERECTION OF THE MONUMENT TO THE SPANISH CONSTITUTION. In June, 1784, Governor Zespedes took possession of St. Augustine, in the name of “his most Catholic Majesty.” The Br

FLORIDA CEDED TO THE UNITED STATES.—ATTEMPT OF THE SPANISH GOVERNOR TO CARRY AWAY THE RECORDS.—DESCRIPTION OF ST. AUGUSTINE WHEN TRANSFERRED.—POPULATION IN 1830.—TOWN DURING THE INDIAN WAR.—OSCEOLA AND COA-COU-CHE.—A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE DUNGEON IN THE OLD FORT, AND THE IRON CAGES.—THE INDIANS BROUGHT TO ST. AUGUSTINE IN 1875. East Florida was delivered by Governor Coppinger to Lieut. Rob. Butler, U. S. A., on the 10th of July, 1821. It had been intended to have the transfer take place on the ann