Historic District in St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Multi-Use Moat / ¿Un foso sin agua?
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
1. Multi-Use Moat Marker
The 1702 British siege made staying in town dangerous. Townspeople moved into the fort for protection, bringing their livestock with them. Farmers brought their recent harvest to extend the storeroom rations.
For more than a month, nearly 1500 people crowded into the fort, relying on these provisions until the siege ended.
This wide, dry ditch made the Castillo less vulnerable to infantry attacks. Combined with other defenses, the moat protected the fort's lower walls from cannon fire. The uncovered expanse also exposed would-be attackers to soldiers firing from the fort's gun deck.
The moat was filled with water from 1938 until 1996, when the National Park Service drained it to reflect its original appearance.
Tras el asedio por parte
this page online
Esta excavación ancha y seca hacía el castillo menos vulnerable ante los ataques de infantería. Combinado con otras defensas, el foso protegía la parte inferior de las murallas del fuego de los cañones enemigos. La extensión de tierra sin resguardo también exponía cualquier posible atacante a los fusilazos de los soldados en el terraplén.
El foso se llenó con agua de 1938 hasta 1996, cuando el National Park Service lo drenó para reflejar su aspecto original.
Erected 2018 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • Notable Events • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1702.
Location. 29° 53.84′ N, 81° 18.659′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It is in the Historic District. Marker can be reached from
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
2. Multi-Use Moat Marker (wide view; moat and San Agustin Bastion in background)
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Weapons of War / Artillería (a few steps from this marker); Fort Marion (a few steps from this marker); Sentry Box (a few steps from this marker); Spanish Stronghold / Ciudadela española (within shouting distance of this marker); Crumbling Coquina / Piedra frágil (within shouting distance of this marker); Guarding the Back Door / Vigilando dos entradas (within shouting distance of this marker); Covered Way (within shouting distance of this marker); Fortress Facelift / Nuevo dueño, obras nuevas (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.
More about this marker. Marker is a large rectangular composite plaque, mounted horizontally on waist-high metal posts.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Also see . . .
1. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. A
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
3. Castillo de San Marcos Moat (south side; San Pedro Bastion left; fort entrance in background)
2. The Siege of St. Augustine (1702). As early as October 27th, intelligence of an impending English attack was coming in from the frontier through Spain’s native allies. Joseph de Zúñiga y Zérda, the governor of Spanish Florida, quickly began to arrange his men and materials. He called for the recent harvest to be brought from the farms to the town to be stored. All livestock was to be driven into and corralled in the dry moat of the Castillo de San Marcos. These supplies, along with the two months worth of rations already in the storerooms at the Castillo, would allow the garrison to hold on until help arrived from the nearest Spanish post: Havana, Cuba. (Submitted on December 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
4. Castillo de San Marcos Moat (north side of fort; San Carlos Bastion on left)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
5. Castillo de San Marcos Moat (west side of fort on right; San Pablo Bastion in foreground)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 12, 2018
6. Castillo de San Marcos Moat (west side of fort on left; south side right; San Pedro Bastion)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 231 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on December 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
