Ok, so this is Fort Frederica on St Simon's Island. We came here after getting a new camera, and the wife wanted to play with it. Naturally, I took along our old camera so I could have fun too. So, since she demanded to be given credit, her photos are marked "
CHB" after them. This will apply to future posts as well. Anyway, onto the fort. Fort Frederica is another major piece of a longer and fascinating story including the Castillo
de San Marcos, Fort Caroline, and others. I will go into that in more detail later. But for now, a few quick facts on the fort itself. Built in 1734 by colonists under James Oglethorpe as a forward guard post against the Spanish in Florida, it was
settled in 1736. In 1739, the long awaited war between Britain and Spain broke out, known as the War of
Jenkin's Ear, launching Fort Frederica to the front lines. After a failed British attack on St Augustine in 1742, the Spanish landed on St Simon's Island to crush the British. The result was a complete Spanish retreat to St Augustine only a few days later. Thus, Georgia remained a British, and not Spanish, colony. Today the fort is a National Monument, with its excavated remains standing tribute to the importance of this victory to the history of the US.
A piece of original pine palisade and an axe head, found nearby.
Part of the moat and earthen outer wall, which would have had a wooden
palisade on top of it when the fort was occupied.
A local Live Oak with Spanish Moss *
CHB*
An excellent example of the remains at the site, this was the village
candlemaker's home and shop.
Orange tree, several of which are spread throughout the site. *
CHB*
Looking down the main street of the village towards the Magazine, the fort's main defensive feature.
British Flag *
CHB*
All that remains of the Magazine. The canon on the right was actually recovered from the swamp a few yards away.
Looking out on St Simon's sound, the British biggest concern for defense.
The Sidney
Lanier bridge, seen from the fort. Completed in 2003, the bridge is the tallest and longest in Georgia, and was named for the poet, Sydney
Lanier. *
CHB*
The magazine, viewed from the waterside
Remains of one of the storehouses near the Magazine. Two of these, at three stories tall, were originally built.
Another portion of the storehouse
The fort Barracks and Parade Ground, Also seen in the top photo.
Artifacts found around the Barracks area
The main cross street of the village
The Military Road, leading to the south end of the island, and to where the Spanish were defeated. This is the only portion of the road that still exists.
Part of the fort's cemetery
A model of what the en
tire fort would have looked like when it was occupied. The Magazine can be seen on the left, by the water, and the Barracks are near the top.
Some weapons of the era
Marker for the Battle of Gully Hole Creek, all that really remains of the site of the first of two battles that drove the Spanish away.
Ok, so this is Fort Frederica on St Simon's Island. We came here after getting a new camera, and the wife wanted to play with it. Naturally, I took along our old camera so I could have fun too. So, since she demanded to be given credit, her photos are marked "CHB" after them. This will apply to future posts as well. Anyway, onto the fort. Fort Frederica is another major piece of a longer and fascinating story including the Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Caroline, and others. I will go into that in more detail later. But for now, a few quick facts on the fort itself. Built in 1734 by colonists under James Oglethorpe as a forward guard post against the Spanish in Florida, it was settled in 1736. In 1739, the long awaited war between Britain and Spain broke out, known as the War of Jenkin's Ear, launching Fort Frederica to the front lines. After a failed British attack on St Augustine in 1742, the Spanish landed on St Simon's Island to crush the British. The result was a complete Spanish retreat to St Augustine only a few days later. Thus, Georgia remained a British, and not Spanish, colony. Today the fort is a National Monument, with its excavated remains standing tribute to the importance of this victory to the history of the US.
A piece of original pine palisade and an axe head, found nearby.
Part of the moat and earthen outer wall, which would have had a wooden palisade on top of it when the fort was occupied.
A local Live Oak with Spanish Moss *CHB*
An excellent example of the remains at the site, this was the village candlemaker's home and shop.
Orange tree, several of which are spread throughout the site. *CHB*
Looking down the main street of the village towards the Magazine, the fort's main defensive feature.
British Flag *CHB*
All that remains of the Magazine. The canon on the right was actually recovered from the swamp a few yards away.
Looking out on St Simon's sound, the British biggest concern for defense.
The Sidney Lanier bridge, seen from the fort. Completed in 2003, the bridge is the tallest and longest in Georgia, and was named for the poet, Sydney Lanier. *CHB*
The magazine, viewed from the waterside
Remains of one of the storehouses near the Magazine. Two of these, at three stories tall, were originally built.
Another portion of the storehouse
The fort Barracks and Parade Ground, Also seen in the top photo.
Artifacts found around the Barracks area
The main cross street of the village
The Military Road, leading to the south end of the island, and to where the Spanish were defeated. This is the only portion of the road that still exists.
Part of the fort's cemetery
A model of what the entire fort would have looked like when it was occupied. The Magazine can be seen on the left, by the water, and the Barracks are near the top.
Some weapons of the era
Marker for the Battle of Gully Hole Creek, all that really remains of the site of the first of two battles that drove the Spanish away.
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