- Joined
- Jun 21, 2012
- Location
- Louisville, KY
Fort Marion, now known as the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, FL is the oldest permanent seacoast fortification in the United States. Construction on this fortification began in 1672 by the Spanish who then controlled Florida. Construction took over 20 years and the post was completed in 1695. The fort is a 4-sided masonry struture which consists of 4 major bastions and is accessed by a ravelin. It is also defended by a moat that encompasses the fortification.
Under Spanish control both the fortification and the city of St. Augustine were besieged twice, once in 1702 and again in 1740, by English forces. Both times the fort withstood the siege thus achieving its purpose. After the French & Indian War Florida was ceded to England and the fort was turned over to British forces who changed the fortification's name from Castillo de San Marcos to Fort St. Mark. Fort St. Mark was used as a base of operations and as a military prison by the British during the American Revolution and was well kept up and improved during the war. Following the Revolutionary War Florida was ceded back to Spain until 1821 when the United States took over Florida following the signing of the Adam-Onis Treaty.
After the United States took control of the fort it was renamed Fort Marion after the "Swamp Fox" Francis Marion of Revolutionary War fame. The fort was immediately garrisoned and improved with US forces adding a water battery and hot shot furnace which can be seen in the picture above. Much of the fort was transformed into a prison for use in the Indian Wars most notably against the Seminoles. In 1861 Fort Marion was under caretaker status when it was seized by Florida troops in January. The fort was garrisoned by Confederates until 1862 when it and the city were abandoned by Confederate troops. On May 11, 1862 sailors and Marines from the USS Wabash under the command of Commander C.R.P Rodgers took possession of the city and fort without firing a shot. For the remainder of the war the fort served as a military prison and for the defense of St. Augustine had Confederate forces ever returned.
Following the war the prison was once again used by the United States Army as a prison for the on-going Indian Wars. It was also used as prison during the Spanish-American War after which it was abandoned by the military. In 1924 the fort became a National Monument and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1942 Fort Marion once again had its named changed this time back to Castillo de San Marcos. Today the fort is open daily except on Christmas for a fee of $7.00. Much of the fort is restored and visitors can tour the forts walls, parade ground and various storerooms and former prison cells. Also in the vicinity is nearby is the Fort Matanzas National Monument which is pictured below. Both a great examples of forts and our nation's history.
Links to both NPS websites for the Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas:
http://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/foma/index.htm
http://www.fortwiki.com/Castillo_de_San_Marcos
http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Matanzas
Lewis, Emanuel R. "Seacoast Fortificatons of the United States: An Introductory History" Naval Institute Press. Annapolis. 1970
Links to all other "Forgotten Forts"
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-carroll.80201/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mcree.79876/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-duffield.79689/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-williams.79605/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-gorges.79453/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-scammel.79382/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-lancaster.79287/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-craig-nm.79104/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-pike.78757/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-livingston.78737/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mcallister.78469/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-caswell.78408/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-wool.78325/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mackinac.77950/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-norfolk.77859/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-clinch.77816/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-adams.77979/
Under Spanish control both the fortification and the city of St. Augustine were besieged twice, once in 1702 and again in 1740, by English forces. Both times the fort withstood the siege thus achieving its purpose. After the French & Indian War Florida was ceded to England and the fort was turned over to British forces who changed the fortification's name from Castillo de San Marcos to Fort St. Mark. Fort St. Mark was used as a base of operations and as a military prison by the British during the American Revolution and was well kept up and improved during the war. Following the Revolutionary War Florida was ceded back to Spain until 1821 when the United States took over Florida following the signing of the Adam-Onis Treaty.
After the United States took control of the fort it was renamed Fort Marion after the "Swamp Fox" Francis Marion of Revolutionary War fame. The fort was immediately garrisoned and improved with US forces adding a water battery and hot shot furnace which can be seen in the picture above. Much of the fort was transformed into a prison for use in the Indian Wars most notably against the Seminoles. In 1861 Fort Marion was under caretaker status when it was seized by Florida troops in January. The fort was garrisoned by Confederates until 1862 when it and the city were abandoned by Confederate troops. On May 11, 1862 sailors and Marines from the USS Wabash under the command of Commander C.R.P Rodgers took possession of the city and fort without firing a shot. For the remainder of the war the fort served as a military prison and for the defense of St. Augustine had Confederate forces ever returned.
Following the war the prison was once again used by the United States Army as a prison for the on-going Indian Wars. It was also used as prison during the Spanish-American War after which it was abandoned by the military. In 1924 the fort became a National Monument and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1942 Fort Marion once again had its named changed this time back to Castillo de San Marcos. Today the fort is open daily except on Christmas for a fee of $7.00. Much of the fort is restored and visitors can tour the forts walls, parade ground and various storerooms and former prison cells. Also in the vicinity is nearby is the Fort Matanzas National Monument which is pictured below. Both a great examples of forts and our nation's history.
Links to both NPS websites for the Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas:
http://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/foma/index.htm
http://www.fortwiki.com/Castillo_de_San_Marcos
http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Matanzas
Lewis, Emanuel R. "Seacoast Fortificatons of the United States: An Introductory History" Naval Institute Press. Annapolis. 1970
Links to all other "Forgotten Forts"
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-carroll.80201/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mcree.79876/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-duffield.79689/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-williams.79605/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-gorges.79453/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-scammel.79382/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-lancaster.79287/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-craig-nm.79104/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-pike.78757/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-livingston.78737/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mcallister.78469/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-caswell.78408/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-wool.78325/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-mackinac.77950/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-norfolk.77859/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-clinch.77816/
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-fort-adams.77979/
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