" In the morning, Mr. Oglethorpe beganto mark out a fort with four bastions, andtaught the men how to dig the ditch, andraise and turf the rampart."
Francis Moore1736 A Voyage to Georgia
General Oglethorpe chose this site forFrederica's fort. It was high ground on a river bend where cannon could hold off Spanish ships upstream ordownstream. Flanking marshes gave protection against land attack, And there was plenty of timber for buildingfortifications.
The fort at Frederica became the center of military operations along the Southernfrontier of the British colonies. From hereOglethorpe launched offensives againstthe Spanish at St. Augustine. The Spanishinvaded Georgia in 1742, but were turnedback before they reached Frederica.
The fort was eventually leveled-not by theSpanish, but by time and the elements.Archeological excavations in the 1950sconfirmed the locations of palisades, walls,and buildings. Earthworks have been partially reconstructed.
Comments 0 comments