Moving on

We’re heading to the Florida Panhandle next. The weather reports are that it will be warmer and dryer there than in Flagler Beach so we are anxious to get there. I was also interested in seeing whether we liked moving between stops in Colectiva II. However, after learning a bit about Fort Caroline when we visited Fort Matanzas, we decided to head through Jacksonville to make sure we didn’t miss a chance to tie some things together. Named for the folk that were here when the French arrived, the Timucuan Visitor Center gives a great historical perspective.

The French claim that Fort Caroline was actually the first European settlement in Florida, before Menendez established St. Augustine. Jean Ribault left France in February 1562, landed near current day Jacksonville, and erected a monument on what he named the River May, now known as the St. Johns River. We visited his monument – well at least the spot where he erected it. The monument was lost over time, but in 1924, Florida chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution had the monument rebuilt to the original specifications. It sits on St. Johns Bluff, the highest point in the county.

We visited what they believe was the original site of the Fort. It turns out that Ribault didn’t establish a settlement in his first visit, but a group of Huguenots returned in 1564, making them the first settlers fleeing religious persecution in what was later to become the United States. Archeologists have never found any remains from the Fort or its occupants. They have determined where they believe it was located based on very precise maps created by French sea captains during the 1500’s.

The tragedy we learned about, the slaughter of Ribault by Menendez near Fort Matanzas, was not contained to the St. Augustine area. The French commander at Fort Caroline knew of Menendez’s forces in St. Augustine, and believed he had them outnumbered 3 to 1. So, shortly after Ribault’s slaughter, he sailed 3 war ships down to St. Augustine, anchored outside the harbor, and demanded that Menendez surrender. While anchored, a freak hurricane hit and destroyed all 3 ships, and Menendez killed all survivors that came ashore. Menendez then assembled his men, marched up to Fort Caroline, and murdered all settlers, with the exception of any Catholics that were tradesmen and, therefore, useful. Because a city was never established here after the slaughter at the fort, St. Augustine claims to be the oldest city in America.

Nearby we discovered Waterboro Army Airfield. This base served as a training ground for Army airmen, including a group of the Tuskegee Airmen. Since both white and black pilots were trained here, the Tuskegee Airmen had to endure far more prejudice than their counterparts trained in black only units. Locals honored their valor by erecting a monument to both there ability to persevere as well as their skill as pilots making a huge contribution to the war effort.

Talk to you soon.