First Spanish Muster Site in Florida
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 29° 54.447 W 081° 18.981
17R E 469460 N 3308572
Located in front of the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine on Magnolia Ave.
Waymark Code: WMQC6D
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 02/02/2016
Views: 13
The first muster of Spanish militiamen in the newly-established presidio (fortified encampment) of St. Augustine took place in St. Augustine took place in September of 1565, Adelantado Pedro Menedez de Aviles assembled 500 regular soldiers to attack the French settlement at Fort Caroline on the St. John's River while the French sailed south towards St. Augustine. Staying behind in the presidio was a group of some 100 civilians including craftsmen, laborers, farmers, priests, wives, and children. Among them, free white men were pressed into military service in accordance with Spanish law to defend the community and protect its supplies against a possible counterattack. Menendez's victory at Fort Caroline helped to secure St. Augustine against further French threat. The Florida National Guard honors September 15, 1565, as the first muster of Florida's militia and therefore the birthdate of the militia in what was to become the United States. St.Augustine is the oldest permanently occupied European settlement in the continental United States.
Marker Number: F-848
Date: 2015
County: St Johns
Marker Type: City
Sponsored or placed by: The Department of Military Affairs, The Florida National Guard, and the Florida Department of State
Website: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
Please post a photo at the marker location.