Day Trip To Castillo St . Augustine

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Saturday 9/17/2022

10:00AM Saturday- 1:00PM Sunday 9/18

Grandpa and the Cannons

Grandpa with Aidan and Evan Stallone

Aidan and Evan with the Cannons

From the Top Left ( Chelsea Stallone, Steven Stallone, Christine, Jessica, Amanda, Aidan, Evan, Lenny, Nick)

Artifacts from the 1500-1600's

Pedro Menendez Ship 

San Pelayo 

Scale Replica

 

Castillo de San Marcos is such an amazing place to visit. Located in St. Augustine, Florida, the huge fort was built right on the intercoastal waterway. It is amazing to see how they built the entire structure out of coquina, a hard block made from seashells. 

Standing on the ocean side looking at the fort, you can see the cannon ball damage in the side of the building. One of my favorite structures is the cannon ball furnace. It was used to heat cannon balls to over 1000 degrees before being launched at the enemy. It's amazing to stand at one of the oldest surviving masonry fortresses in the United States. In June 1740, James Oglethorpe sent his British ships to patrol the entrance of the Matanzas River. On June 24th, daily bombardments of the fort and town commenced, but the shells fired by Oglethorpe's cannons could not penetrate the coquina structure.(Schafer, 2018)

Castillo began construction in 1672. It was ordered to be built by the viceroy of New Spain after St. Augustine was attacked by buccaneer pirates (Schafer, 2018). The 100 pirates raided through the streets of St. Augustine and killed sixty people, kidnapped women and held kids at ransom. (Schafer, 2018)

Over the centuries, the fort was used by various leaders and even had its name changed in 1763 to Fort St. Mark. During the Peace of Paris in 1783 the name was transferred back and during the Seminole wars it was used as a prison to hold native prisoners captive.

My kids, Aidan and Evan, love looking at the cannons. It's hard for them to understand that a 8 pound ball of iron shoots out of it with a loud explosion. It's amazing to think of how they constructed those back in the day and the amount of work that had to go into it. The sound of one of these cannons going off must be ear shattering. The 8-12 lb. cannon balls could travel 1/4 mile with devastating power.

Overall, this was a great trip. My family had a great trip touring through the old city. He bought some small souvenirs and ate some pizza at the local pizza shop. What a great memorable experience. We will be back again!

Schafer, D. L. (2018). Chapter 7. In The history of Florida (p. 114). essay, University Press of Florida. 

Spanish Mission and Forts Power Point

 

Blog Entry of Choice 9-6-2022

 

A Land Remembered

Chapter 6 Review:

Tobias finished fixing the fence and started to grow more crops. He took a trip to the trading post, but no supply boat had come. As he was chopping wood, Henry Addler came riding through on a black horse. Addler tells Tobias he has orders from the governor to round up me to herd cattle up to GA for the soldiers. Tobias speaks to Emma and Zech and gives them instructions before he leaves. On their way to GA the marshal recruits 5 more men. It took them three days to reach savannah. They arrived at a huge open plain. Addler explained there were more than thirty thousand cattle grazing at times. They continue to walk through the woods that were full of animal life. They come to the herd of about 600 and take over. Tobias and his crew mount horse and get their own whip. Their instructed to let the cows move slow so they wont run. The drove the herd for a week then came to a fenced corral. At night during rest, wolves started to circle the herd. The crew tried to build fires to keep the wolves back but it didn’t work. The herd broke free of the gate and ran for three miles until Tobias and three others stopped them. They gathered the herd and camped until morning. Addler warned Tobias about the Reb desserts and that they would hid behind bushes to shoot them and steal the herd to send to Fernandina. Back Home, Emma and Zech were visited by some bears in the middle of the night. They were trying to get into the barn. Fire did not stop the bears so Zech was forced to shoot one of the bears. The other bear raided the smokehouse. Tobias finally drove the herd to the soldiers. The soldiers butchered the cattle up quickly. Tobias was free to go but couldn’t take a horse and was told to walk. Addler mentioned to Tobias he had some money coming his way for helping to drive the herd up there. It took Tobias eight days to arrive home. He ate whatever he could find on the way back and even stole a chicken. Zech told Tobias about the bears and Tobias was proud. Emma made Tobias some food while Zech cracked the whip outside the house.

Chapter 7 Review :

Tobias whips a squirrel and breaks his neck. Zech and his have mastered the whip and used it to keep food on the table. He decides to reinforce the garden fence when he notices a horse. It was a confederate soldier. He demands Tobias to come with him to cut wood for the war. He tells he has no choice, or he will be shot dead. Tobias helps with the wood chopping and has conversations with other men. He is eager to get back home when he notices soldiers with horses and cannons across the field running. A battle had begun between the federals and confederates and Tobias was stuck right in the middle. He hid in a bush along the tree line and waited. The next morning, he spoke to a soldier that claimed victory of the battle. Tobias decided he would be safe to head back home. On the way he spots a horse tied to a tree next to a dead soldier. He takes the horse, and the soldiers belongs and heads home. When he gets there, he finds everything burnt. Emma and Zech are alive and explain that confederate deserters were responsible. They killed their ox and ate him and took the other one with them. Tobias decides to leave and head south. He takes the horse and wagon and begins his journey.

Chapter 8 Review :

Tobias encounters a cow while on his horse. In pursuit of the cow, Tobias gets thrown off and hits the floor. Zech retrieves the cow and they had back. They spent months traveling but eventually a home along the Kissimmee River. The nearest trading post was forty miles to the east. He learned that the war was over and the south had lost. He bought a branding iron for two dollars and stamped every log on his house. He then stamped his very own cow to claim his own. He came across an old Seminole village that had been abandoned but still had some vegetables growing. He started his garden. Emma asked for Tobias to get a Dutch oven from the trading post. Tobias feels guilty that Emma is still wearing the same dress for 10 years. He feels a sense of urgency to do more for Zech and Emma. Zech comes riding along on the horse, he has mastered it and become a great rider. Zech says he could ride the horse through the swamp. Tobias agrees to himself with a sense of pride.

Chapter 9 Review:

Tobias was traveling for ten miles until he turned east towards the trading post. He passed through a prairie full of birds and cypress palms. He was pulling the beaten-up wagon. He stopped for a moment to rest and eat some of the fried coon that Emma had made for him. He encountered a wild boar but left him alone. At the trading post Tobias meets Elias Thompson. The owner of the post. They speak briefly about the consequences of the war. Elias has no flour and hasn’t seen a Dutch oven in five years. Tobias trades some coon skins for some salt and takes 4 boxes if 44 ammo shells. Elias tells Tobias that boats will be traveling up and down the river and they are looking for gator skins. They sell for 1.50- 3.00. Elias warns Tobias of drifters hiding out in the woods. Says they could kill him. Tobias heads off with the wagon and finds a hammock in the woods to build camp. He starts a fire when then he hears footsteps in the woods. He sees the Indians that he helps years ago back at his last home. The Indians trade stories while they prepare food for them all. The Indians explain they are traveling to find bullets. Keith Tiger offers some Koonti flour to Tobias. Tobias gives them bullets in return. The flour comes from the roots of the sago palm. The Indians told Tobias not to keep the cattle penned up for they would die. He said Indians would follow wild herds of cattle and they were called Ishmaelites. The Indians and Tobias shared the communal pot of food until they laid down for sleep. They all had a long journey back in the morning.

Chapter 10 Review :

Back at home, Tobias hurried to the cow pen and opened the door. Zech was confused. Tobias explained the cow must eat and cannot be left in a pen, advice he learned from the Indians. He let the cow go free. Him and Zech went out to hunt for another bull. While chasing a bull, the horse got tangled in some muscadine vines and threw Tobias off the saddle. After untangling the horse, Zech got on and took off after the bull. He drove the bull back toward Tobias, which was hiding in a tree. When the bull got close, Tobias jumped out of the tree and onto the bulls back. He wrestled the bull for a bit until they both fell and the bull took off. They headed back home. The next morning Zech came running to Tobias to come quick. Zech ran out to the barn where they found a marshtackie horse and two dogs tied up. Tobias suspected the Indians brought them for him.

History of Florida

Chapter 3 Review: The Land They Found

I was able to relate to a lot of the information in Chapter 3 with the novel A Land Remembered. Much of the chapter is about the history of Florida's ecology and describes the terrain that the Spanish and French encountered during their explorations. The wet swamps, humid heat, and terrible storms were a normal part of the Florida culture.  Page 46 shows a brief map of the soil and waterways of Florida. In the book, the author states " the ecology of the Floridas is the stage upon which the actors who figure in the chapters of this History of Florida played out their stories" (Hoffman, 2018). The types of soils and sources of water dictated where the first European contacts sought there settlement. This is why the Calusa Tribe were mainly hunter and gathers, rather than the agricultural tribe. The soil was poor where they lived which made they rely heavily on marine life. The land soil North of Fort Meyers and South of the central ridge is considered very acidic infertile soils that easily flood. (Hoffman, 2018). Growing up myself in Northern part of Tampa, I witnessed this soil first hand. It is very sandy and gray. Grass is very hard to grow without constant water and fertilizer. Most grass is full of weeds and contains patches of sand. While reading the types of terrain Tobias faced while traveling through Florida, Chapter 3 of the History of Florida demonstrates the same challenges the Natives Americans and European Settlers faced 200 years prior. The northern interior land was often considered good fertile soil, which was accompanied by hills that  provided drainage and springs that contained fresh water. Lastly, one of the most detrimental aspects to Florida is the Tropical Storms. Storms ravished many European ships and left they to sink in the Gulf and Atlantic oceans. Flash flooding made finding a settlement difficult. In chapter Fourteen of The Land Remembered, Tobias, Skillet, Zech and Emma face a crushing storm while herding cows. They were forced to leave their cows in the field and search for higher ground. The storm raged for eight hours and changed from torrential downpour to solid water (Smith, 2011).

Hoffman, P. E. (2018). Chapter 3: A Land They Found. In The history of Florida (p. 46). essay, University Press of Florida.

Smith, P. D. (2011). Chapter Fourteen. In A land remembered (pp. 92–95). essay, Pineapple Press.

LIVE STOCK BRANDING

Koonti Flour

https://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/uf%3A32376/datastream/OBJ/view/Kunti_A_Food_Staple_of_Florida_Indians_by_Frederick_W__Sleight.pdf

Chapter 2 Worksheet

 

McCoy/AMH2070            CHAPTER 2  ANALYSIS  WORKSHEET         Name: STEVEN STALLONE

                                                       (40 total points)

 

Focus Questions:

(1)    Who is the author? 

The authors of The History of Florida consist of 23 historians. Charles W. Arnade, Canter Brown Jr.,  Amy Turner Bushnell, David R. Colburn, William S. Coker, Amy Mitchell-Cook, Jack E. Davis, Robin F. A. Fabel, Michael Gannon, Thomas Graham, John H. Hann, Dr Della Scott-Ireton, Maxine D. Jones, Jane Landers, Eugene Lyon, John K. Mahon, Jerald T. Milanich, Raymond A. Mohl, Gary R. Mormino, Susan Richbourg Parker, George E. Pozzetta, Samuel Proctor, William W. Rogers, Daniel L. Schafer, Jerrell H. Shofner, and Dr. Robert A. Taylor, Brent R. Weisman.

 

 

(10) One argument presented is that Historic Accounts are not always cut & dry/ certain.  Discuss 2 examples within this chapter that supports this idea.  (pg 18.28)

 

1: Historians argue that De Soto’s initially landing was in Tampa Bay. This was concluded from discoveries and studies suggesting he landed in Charlotte Harbor or Pine Island Sound. In 1989, a published Chaves guide by the original de Soto chroniclers decided that Tampa Bay fits the best narrative, but the landing was more likely to be in Piney Point.

Jerald T. Milanich and Charles Hudson, Hernando de Soto and the Indians of Florida (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1993)

2: Charts and maps suggests that the first contacts the Spanish had with the natives was as early as 1502. The map shows a narrow landmass that is possible Florida by is more likely the coast of Central America. An map created by oral and written reports from navigators was created by Peter Martyr in 1511. The map shows a shoreline to the north of Cuba which he labels “Isla de Beimeni Parte”. The land shows keys descending from under them which could represent Florida.

Gannon, M. (2018). First European Contacts. In The history of Florida (p. 18-19). essay, University Press of Florida.

 

 

 

(1)    Explore the discussion of the Fountain of Youth and its validity (pg 19).

In year 1512, Diego Colon set out to concur land “to the north” of Puerto Rico named Bimini. The legend says that Bimini contained a fountain of waters that rejuvenated old men. They called it Fountain of Youth. However, this legend was never mentioned in Juan Ponce’s journey from Fernando II, which was meticulously detailed. However, In the early 1600’s, there was one small mention of this fountain in a correspondence published in an article by historian Antonio De Herrera y Tordesillas. It stated that on the return of Juan Ponce voyage, he sent one of his ships to the Bahama islands in search for “the celebrated fountain which the Indians said turned men from old men [into] youths”. The article was unsubstantiated, and it was more likely that Juan Ponce was interested in finding gold on his conquests.

Gannon, M. (2018). First European Contacts. In The history of Florida (p. 19). essay, University Press of Florida.

 

 

(5) Describe political or social policy mentioned within the chapter.  Be sure to include:

Old Spain rulers/ruling bodies:

New World rulers/ruling bodies:

 adelantado:

 Requirirmiento:

New Laws of 1542:

In 1514, Juan Ponce sailed back to Spain, where he secured a revised royal asiento, or contract, and was name adelantado and governor of the islands Bimini and Florida. On 15, July 1539, Hernando de Soto led an intimidating and violent march through Florida. He learned this behavior from experiences in Panama and Nicaragua. This behavior was authorized by a proclamation called, the Requirirmiento. The Requirirmiento [Requirement] was written in 1510 by the Council of Castile to be read aloud as an ultimatum to conquered Indians in the Americas (The Requerimiento [requirement], Council of Castile, 1510 ...). The Roman Catholic ideology was still uncertain about the moral standing of the native Americans. It wouldn’t be until years later, after De Sotos death, the New Laws of 1542 were put into place by Carlos V’s promulgation. Luis Cancer de Barbastro demonstrated the commitment to these new laws when he arrived in Tampa on an unarmed ship. His mission was to create peace with the natives but when he arrived in Tampa, the natives killed him immediately.

The Requerimiento [requirement], Council of Castile, 1510 ... (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2022, from https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/contact/text7/requirement.pdf

Gannon, M. (2018). First European Contacts. In The history of Florida (p. 28). essay, University Press of Florida.

 

 

(1)    What animal was introduced to Florida by de Soto?

Hernando De Soto brought 223 horses, mules, war dogs and swine along with him on his conquest to La Florida. In 1987, an archaeologist discovered a pig mandible just east of Tallahassee which was introduced by De Soto.

Gannon, M. (2018). First European Contacts. In The history of Florida (p. 32). essay, University Press of Florida.

 

(2) What is the “microbial invasion”?       

The microbial invasion was the aftermath of the brutal trek through Florida by Hernando De Soto. Dozens of chiefdoms that were humiliated by De Soto went into decline or collapse. Thousands of natives died from Old World pathogens like smallpox, measles, and typhoid fever. Although the “microbial invasion” started years prior from the crews of Juan Ponce, De Soto’s men reinforced the spread that killed the natives for many years.

Gannon, M. (2018). First European Contacts. In The history of Florida (p. 33-34). essay, University Press of Florida.

 

(5) Present reasons supporting settlement of Florida AND arguments against the settlement of Florida based on the text of Chapter 2

 

1.       De Soto spelt his entire fortune and went into debt investing into his voyage to Florida. He was certain to find gold to replenish his chests.

Gannon, M. (2018). First European Contacts. In The history of Florida (p. 27). essay, University Press of Florida.

2.       Although Florida was a beautiful mass of land. De Soto and his crew were faced with famine and dehydration on their journey. They also face ongoing battles with the natives that eventually killed all but four including De Soto.

Gannon, M. (2018). First European Contacts. In The history of Florida (p. 29). essay, University Press of Florida.

What do you find most interesting about this article?

 

This article was very interesting because I have lived in most of these areas. I spent about ten years in Tampa and spent a lot of my time fishing around the Tampa Bay area. Coincidently, I fished the Piney Point area. Fort De Soto was also one of my regular fishing locations. All this time, I had no idea about the history of these locations. It’s really interesting to know that I was driving around the bay in a small motorboat, when only 500 years ago, the Spanish and natives were having wars in the exact same location. Mind blown.

(10) ARTISTIC/CREATIVE  Appendix Choices: (choose 1 – this assignment PLUS the chosen visual appendix will be your first Portfolio Entry)