Siege of Fort Mose
Encyclopedia
The siege of Fort Mose was a significant action of the War of Jenkins’ Ear which took place on June 26 of 1740. A Spanish column of 300 regular troops, free black militia and Indian auxiliaries commanded by Captain Antonio Salgado stormed the strategically crucial position of Fort Mose, occupied by 170 British soldiers under Colonel John Palmer as a part of James Oglethorpe
's offensive to capture St. Augustine
. Taken by surprise, the British garrison was virtually annihilated. Palmer himself, three captains and three lieutenants were among the British troops killed in action. After the battle the fort was destroyed and it wasn't rebuilt until 12 years later.
who were granted their freedom by Spain. The new fort, which was the first settlement of free blacks in North America
, consisted in a church, a fence with some towers, and some twenty houses inhabited by a hundred people. The men were made Spanish militia by Governor Manuel de Montiano
and put in command of Captain Francisco Menendez
, a free black with military experience. Fort Mose's militia soon became a well-trained unit, as Saint Augustine had a militia corps of free blacks and mulattos since 1683.
and Georgia, militia volunteers, about 600 Creek and Uchise allies and about 800 black slaves as auxiliaries made up the expedition, which was supported by sea by 7 seven ships of the British Royal Navy. Montiano, who only disposed of about 600 men including reinforcements recently arrived from Cuba
, was forced to resist entrenched, although on several occasions he attacked by surprise the British lines.
Approaching to St. Augustine, a British party under Colonel John Palmer composed by 170 men belonging to the Georgian colonial militia, the 42nd Regiment of Foot
and the auxiliary native allies, rapidly occupied Fort Mose, strategically situated on a vital travel route. The fort had been previously abandoned by orders of Manuel de Montiano due the assassination of some of its inhabitants by Indians allies of Great Britain.
Montiano, who knew the strategic importance of Fort Mose, decided to recover it. At dawn on June 15, Captain Antonio Salgado commanded Spanish regulars, free blacks led by Francisco Menendez and indios amigos in a surprise attack on Mose. The attack was initiated two hours before the British soldiers awoke so that they could not prepare their arms for defense. About 70 of them were killed in a bloody hand to hand combat
with swords, muskets and club work.
. In late June St. Augustine was relieved from Havana
and Royal Navy’s warships abandoned the land forces. Governor Montiano commended the free black militia for their bravery, and although Fort Mose had been destroyed during the siege, their inhabitants installed in St. Augustine for next decade as free and equal Spanish citizens.
James Oglethorpe
James Edward Oglethorpe was a British general, member of Parliament, philanthropist, and founder of the colony of Georgia...
's offensive to capture St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
. Taken by surprise, the British garrison was virtually annihilated. Palmer himself, three captains and three lieutenants were among the British troops killed in action. After the battle the fort was destroyed and it wasn't rebuilt until 12 years later.
Background
Located two miles north of St. Augustine, Fort Mose was established in 1738 by escaped black slaves from the British colony of GeorgiaProvince of Georgia
The Province of Georgia was one of the Southern colonies in British America. It was the last of the thirteen original colonies established by Great Britain in what later became the United States...
who were granted their freedom by Spain. The new fort, which was the first settlement of free blacks in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, consisted in a church, a fence with some towers, and some twenty houses inhabited by a hundred people. The men were made Spanish militia by Governor Manuel de Montiano
Manuel de Montiano
Manuel de Montiano y Luyando was a Spanish General and colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of La Florida and Royal Governor of Panama...
and put in command of Captain Francisco Menendez
Francisco Menendez (creole)
Francisco Menendez was a free black military leader serving the Spanish Crown in 18th century St. Augustine, Florida. He is first traceable as a slave in South Carolina who, like many of his contemporaries, escaped to St. Augustine, Florida...
, a free black with military experience. Fort Mose's militia soon became a well-trained unit, as Saint Augustine had a militia corps of free blacks and mulattos since 1683.
Battle
At the outbreak of the War of the Jenkins’ ear in 1739, General James Oglethorpe, governor of Georgia, encouraged by some successful raids in the frontier, decided to raise a significant expedition to capture St. Augustine to the Spanish. Regular troops from South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and Georgia, militia volunteers, about 600 Creek and Uchise allies and about 800 black slaves as auxiliaries made up the expedition, which was supported by sea by 7 seven ships of the British Royal Navy. Montiano, who only disposed of about 600 men including reinforcements recently arrived from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, was forced to resist entrenched, although on several occasions he attacked by surprise the British lines.
Approaching to St. Augustine, a British party under Colonel John Palmer composed by 170 men belonging to the Georgian colonial militia, the 42nd Regiment of Foot
42nd Regiment of Foot
The 42nd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally the 43rd Highlanders they were renumbered the 42nd in 1748.- Early history :...
and the auxiliary native allies, rapidly occupied Fort Mose, strategically situated on a vital travel route. The fort had been previously abandoned by orders of Manuel de Montiano due the assassination of some of its inhabitants by Indians allies of Great Britain.
Montiano, who knew the strategic importance of Fort Mose, decided to recover it. At dawn on June 15, Captain Antonio Salgado commanded Spanish regulars, free blacks led by Francisco Menendez and indios amigos in a surprise attack on Mose. The attack was initiated two hours before the British soldiers awoke so that they could not prepare their arms for defense. About 70 of them were killed in a bloody hand to hand combat
Hand to hand combat
Hand-to-hand combat is a lethal or nonlethal physical confrontation between two or more persons at very short range that does not involve the use of firearms or other distance weapons...
with swords, muskets and club work.
Aftermath
The Spanish victory at Fort Mose demoralized the badly divided British forces and supposed a significant factor in Oglethorpe’s withdrawal to SavannahSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. In late June St. Augustine was relieved from Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
and Royal Navy’s warships abandoned the land forces. Governor Montiano commended the free black militia for their bravery, and although Fort Mose had been destroyed during the siege, their inhabitants installed in St. Augustine for next decade as free and equal Spanish citizens.