The Castillo's baptism of fire came in 1702 during the War of the Spanish Succession when the English occupied St. Augustine and unsuccessfully besieged the fort for 50 days. The English burned the town before they left, but the Castillo emerged unscathed, thereby making it a symbolic link between the old St. Augustine of 1565 and the new city that rose out of the ashes. To strengthen the defenses, the Spanish erected new earthwork lines on the north and west sides of St. Augustine, thus making it a walled city. Matanzas Inlet, however was still unfortified when Gen. James Oglethorpe's British troops from Fort Frederica, in Georgia, attacked St. Augustine in 1740. Again, the Castillo was besieged and Matanzas Inlet blockaded. But the Spanish did not waiver during the 27 day British bombardment. The attack also taught the Spanish the strategic value of Matanzas Inlet and the need for a strong outpost there. Consequently in 1742 they completed the present coquina tower. We wandered up onto the bastions to catch a view of the sea and the city. The old Spanish cannons stood as silent sentries to a time gone by. As storm clouds built in the east, we gazed out from the watch tower used to set off the alarm when danger approached. Although never taken in battle, the Fort changed hands many times. In 1763, following the French and Indian War, the British gained control of Florida from Spain by treaty. Unfortunately the British did not have enough room to house all their troops in the Fort. They solved the problem by adding second floors in the Castillo. As we went through the other casemates (rooms), we could look up along the walls and see the evidence of the second floors. The Soldier on the stairs is a member of the 60th Royal American unit, who occupied the Fort during the American Revolution from 1776 to 1782. This regiment was made up primarily of Americans loyal to the British Crown. At the end of the Revolutionary War, in 1783, the 2nd Treaty of Paris once again gave Spain control of Florida and the Castillo. By 1825, tensions between the U. S. and Spain led to Spain ceding all of Florida to the United States. The Fort was renamed Fort Marion. In 1832 a federal policy designed to remove Indians from all lands east of the Mississippi, was initiated in order to make way for a white expansion in the area. Most Seminoles refused to be moved to the "Indian Territory". In 1835 guerrilla fighting broke out. The next seven years proved to be the most costly Indian war ever fought by the United States Army. Osceola, a war leader, was arrested under a flag of truce just south of St. Augustine in October 1837. He and 203 Seminoles were imprisoned at Fort Marion for two months. In late November 1837 twenty Indians lead by Wildcat and John Cavallo escaped from the Fort and fled south to the Everglades. In December, Osceola and the other prisoners were transferred to Fort Moultrie at Charleston, South Carolina. Osceola died there of an infection in January 1838. Only about 200 Seminoles remained hidden in south Florida at the end of the Seminole wars. The Fort would continue to serve as a federal prison, first housing western Indians, and then the prisoners from the Spanish-American war until it was closed. In 1924, the Fort was proclaimed a national monument and in 1933 the War Department transferred the property to the National Park Service. In 1942 the Park Service reinstated the original name of Castillo de San Marcos.
On Saturday, the City celebrated the annual re-enactment of the 1702 attack on the Fort by the British. We gathered on the south lawn and around the visitors center waiting for the signal by cannon that the British had arrived. With the signal, the crowd was ushered into the Fort, by Spanish guardsmen, much as happened years ago, and a musket and cannon battle ensured. We remained outside in the line of fire. In the past, I have often stood off to the side and watched as cannon versus cannon fired before us. This can be quite loud but nothing compared to the sound of a large cannon fired directly at you. The enactment took place after dark creating a cascade of lights from musket and cannon. It was a different kind of experience. This Fort is a treasure and is carefully and painstakingly preserved and presented as it would have appeared. Hats off to the National Park Service for a job well done.

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