Chapter I: Preface

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.

The desire of the author has been to condense and render accessible to the general reader the very interesting but elaborate accounts of the early writers concerning some of the more notable events connected with the early settlement and defense of St. Augustine.

Copious quotations have been borrowed, and the quaint language of the early historians has been retained as peculiarly appropriate to the subject and locality described.

The traditions and chronicles in possession of the descendants of the early settlers have been sought with a desire to preserve these fragments of history before it shall be too late. Already those conversant with the events of the early years of the century have passed from the stage of life.

The reader who desires to become better informed as to the events noticed in this volume should consult the narrative of De Soto, by a Knight of Elvas, the works of Cabeça de Vaca, Garcilasa de la Vega, Laudonnère, Bartram, Romans, Vignoles, Roberts, De Brahm, Stork, Forbes, Darby, Williams, and Fairbanks, to all of whom the author is under obligation.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, _November, 1880_.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

Introductory. 1

CHAPTER II.

The Discovery of Florida. 3

CHAPTER III.

Expeditions of Muruelo, Cordova, Alminos, Ayllon, and Narvaez. 7

CHAPTER IV.

Hernando De Soto.--An Account of his March through Florida. 18

CHAPTER V.

Huguenot Settlement under Ribault. 26

CHAPTER VI.

Second Huguenot Settlement under Laudonnère. 29

CHAPTER VII.

The Unfortunate Expedition under Ribault.--Founding of St. Augustine by Menendez, 1565.--Attack upon the French Settlement on the St. Johns River. 37

CHAPTER VIII.

Shipwreck of Ribault’s Fleet.--Massacre by Menendez. 46

CHAPTER IX.

Expedition and Retaliation of De Gourges. 57

CHAPTER X.

Return of Menendez.--Attempt to Christianize the Indians.--Attack upon St. Augustine by Sir Francis Drake.--Murder of the Friars. 66

CHAPTER XI.

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. 79

CHAPTER XII.

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. 89

CHAPTER XIII.

The Town when delivered to the English.--Fort San Juan De Pinos.--St. Augustine as described by the English Writers in 1765 to 1775. 100

CHAPTER XIV.

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. 113

CHAPTER XV.

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. 122

CHAPTER XVI.

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. 129

CHAPTER XVII.

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. 143

CHAPTER XVIII.

St. Augustine as it used to be.--Customs.--The Oldest Structure in the United States.--Present Population.--Objects of Interest.--Buildings Ancient and Modern.--St. Augustine during the Rebellion.--Climate.--Advantages as a Health Resort. 161

HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.