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Situation of Matters at St. Augustine, 1566- 1567. One purpose of the expedition of Menendez was now accomplished. He had destroyed the French colony, and, for the present, at least, put an end to the efforts of that much despised sect, the Lutheran, to establish itself in the New World. He needed now to strengthen his own position, and guard against any attempts the French might make to reoccupy the country which he was so anxious to secure to the Spanish crown. Unlike those who had preceded him, Menendez had, by accident and good fortune, placed his settlement at a peculiarly favorable point. The harbor, while affording ample accommodation for vessels bringing in supplies for the garrison, was inaccessible to those of a larger class, and he was thus effectually protected from the attack of any hostile fleet, and, being on a peninsula of moderate size, he could without much difficulty guard against attack from the Indians. A still more favorable feature in the location of Menendez' s garrison was its great healthiness. Surrounded by salt marshes, free from all miasmatic exhalations, the balmy and pure sea-air preserved the colonists almost wholly from those fatal diseases which had swept away so many of the first settlers on this continent. The old town of St. Augustine is built upon the precise point that was occupied by Menendez. Its Indian name was Seloy, and the Spaniards found several habitations of considerable size which had been built by the natives. Satisfied that his position was a good one, Menendez proceeded to fortify it. A fort was constructed of logs at a point commanding the approaches by sea and by land, and made as effective as the limited means at hand would permit. Other buildings were erected, and the forms of civil as well as military government were instituted in the province. Among the buildings erected was, undoubtedly, one in which the rites of the Roman Church were celebrated, and we may probably say without hesitation that the first Roman Catholic church on the Atlantic coast of North America was erected at St. Augustine. Menendez did all in his power to advance the cause of religion wherever he gained a footing in the New World, and never forgot this feature in the object of conquest. Having done all that he could for the comfort and security of his garrison, Menendez proceeded to strengthen Fort Mateo, formerly Fort Caroline, and erected further defenses nearer the mouth of the river. In the mean time he had caused explorations to be made into the interior, but with what result we are not informed. The Spaniards were not left very long in undisturbed possession of their ground. The most powerful of the neighboring chiefs who were hostile to them soon came and waged war upon them. The soldiers of Menendez could not venture out of camp in any direction without being fired upon by their savage foe, and day after day, one after another of those who went out fishing or hunting, were cut off. until more than a hundred men and several officers fell victims. The Indians came up to the lines of the fort, and on one occasion succeeded in setting fire to a magazine and a great number of the thatched houses, causing great destruction of property and provisions, and much suffering. Menendez finally determined to ask aid from the Governor of Cuba, but none was granted him, and he was obliged to send a vessel to Campeachy. Up to this time he had in vain sought tidings of his lost son, and, while waiting the return of the vessel from Campeachy, he determined to make search himself on the part of the coast where he was reported to have been shipwrecked, and for this purpose took a vessel and sailed along the coast of South Florida. Landing at Cape Florida, he found there, at an Indian settlement, seven Spaniards who had been, with many others, wrecked on the coast some twenty years before, these alone surviving the cruelty and hardships to which all had been subjected. From these Spaniards the Indians had obtained the name of Carlos, which we find given to one of the tribes of South Florida. Hearing that their king, the greatest king in all the world, was called Carlos, the Indians adopted the name in their royal family, thinking thereby to attain to greater power and honor. Releasing his countrymen from captivity, Menendez received them on board his vessel, and returned to St. Augustine, much depressed at the failure of all his efforts to recover his child. New trials and difficulties awaited him. Increasing distress at St. Augustine and Fort Mateo had created disaffection. Both garrisons mutinied, and determined to abandon the colony. The officers left in command were unable to control the mutineers at St. Augustine, who seized one of the vessels and sailed for the West Indies. Of the garrison at Fort Mateo, consisting of one hundred and fifty persons, all but twenty-one mutinied, and determined to leave the country. A vessel of seventy tons arriving with provisions, they seized upon it, intending to sail to the West Indies or Peru. Menendez returned after the mutineers had embarked, but had not yet sailed, and tried to arrest their movements and induce them to return to the garrison. But the greater number were obstinately determined to go, and of one hundred and thirty on board the vessel only thirty-five expressed their willingness to remain. These the mutineers placed on board a bateau, but before they could reach St Augustine they were fired upon by the Indians, and most of them killed. Those who escaped turned their course, hoping to reach Cuba, but were wrecked on Cape Florida, and remained among the Indians of Carlos. Of the garrison at St. Augustine, over one hundred, at the head of whom was Juan de Vicente, forced Menendez to allow them to return to Porto Rico. Crowded upon a small vessel, they suffered much from heat and sickness, and during a long voyage many of them died. Relieved of the disaffected portion of his command, Menendez restored what order he could; but his position was a most discouraging one, and under a less resolute leader the enterprise must have failed. Many of the deserters returned to Spain, and, by their unfavorable reports of the country, greatly abated the interest which Menendez had excited, and prevented other colonists from joining him. The Adelantado now undertook a voyage to the north, visiting and making overtures of peace to the chiefs along the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, and is supposed to have sailed as far north as the Chesapeake. The points especially mentioned are Quale, Avista, and St. Helena. At St. Helena he left a number of his men to erect a fort; and also at Avista and all the Indian settlements which he visited he insisted upon building forts. Returning south, Menendez ascended the San Mateo River, visiting several Indian tribes on its borders. It seems to have been supposed by Menendez that this river communicated with the sea at some point in the lower part of the peninsula, and the Indians told him of a lake, called Miami, that communicated with the sea and with this river. They may have alluded to that extensive savanna now known as the Everglades, which is more or less covered with water at all times, and in seasons of heavy rains may have afforded access by light canoes to the head-waters of the St. John's. One of the outlets to the Everglades, near Cape Florida, is now known as the Miami River, and we find the same name given to two rivers of Ohio, from which circumstance we may suppose it probable that the original inhabitants of these States, Ohio and Florida, had a common origin and language. Menendez revisited his posts at St. Helena, Avista, and Guale, and took measures for their secure establishment; and at these and all other places which he visited he caused the cross to be planted, and left religious teachers, who were to instruct the natives. He seems to have been gratified with the willingness of most of them to receive instruction and become Christians. One of the chiefs, however, Satourioura, always stood aloof, and showed no good feeling for the Spaniards, who, notwithstanding this fact, ventured to visit his tribe. On one occasion, seventeen of them going out to the Indian houses, about two leagues from Fort Mateo, were fallen upon and eight of their number killed, the rest returning to camp covered with wounds. The distress for provisions continued, and Menendez was compelled to go himself to the West Indies to seek relief for his colonists. During his absence a fleet of fifteen sail arrived, bringing heavy reinforcements, which were greatly needed, for, in addition to the loss sustained at Fort Mateo and St. Augustine by mutiny and desertion, the greater part of the garrison left at St. Helena had deserted. Seizing upon a transport, they made sail for Cuba, but were cast upon that fatal coast of North Florida, and there fell in with the wrecked mutineers from Fort Mateo, who most gladly welcomed this accession to their numbers. About this time a vessel arrived off the coast with three Jesuit fathers of some distinction, the first of their order who had visited this part of the New World, all of the priests who had come over before being Franciscans. Father Martinez, having landed in a small boat, proceeded with the crew in search of the fort which was their point of destination, but, a sudden squall coming up, the vessel was driven out to sea, and the good priest and his boat's crew were left on shore defenseless and without provisions. Falling in with a party of Indians, they were directed to Fort Mateo; but within half a league of the mouth of the river they were attacked by another party of savages, and Father Martinez and three of his men were slaughtered on the shores of St. George's Island. When Menendez returned from Cuba he was much encouraged at finding the reinforcements which had arrived during his absence, and he proceeded at once to strengthen his garrisons at Fort Mateo and St. Helena. Leaving them in good condition, he started on an expedition to South Florida, wishing to visit all the tribes who occupied the lower part of the peninsula. The most southerly of these was that of Tequesta, and next were the tribes of Carlos, the most powerful of all the Indian tribes of this peninsula, and whose limits extended from one coast to the other. Within their domain, probably near Cape Florida, Menendez built a small fort and left a garrison. In reply to inquiries made here relative to Lake Miami and its connection with the San Mateo River, the Indians directed him to the country of the Tocobayo, fifty leagues to the north. Before leaving Fort Mateo he had given orders that a vessel should be sent up the San Mateo River to search for Lake Miami, and to meet him, if possible, on the north coast of Florida. Three vessels were accordingly sent; but, finding the course of the river very tortuous and its borders inhabited by numerous Indians, in whose good feeling they felt no confidence, the commanders determined to return to the fort. From the country of Carlos Menendez came to Tocobayo and obtained permission to erect a fort and leave some religious teachers to bring them to a knowledge of the true faith. From Tocobayo three days' march brought him to Fort Mateo, from which we may suppose that the location of Tocobayo was about that of Cape Canaveral. The Adelantado is said to have met at Tocobayo more than fifteen hundred Indians, and at a council held there twenty-nine caciques were present. At Fort Mateo Menendez found Juan Pardo, who had been sent out with one hundred and fifty men to explore the country to the west and see if there was any communication open with New Spain by means of rivers having their course in that direction. Pardo penetrated some one hundred and fifty leagues to the Apalachian Mountains, making friendly overtures to the caciques of the country, and building a fort in the territory of one named Coava. Leaving a garrison and religious teachers here, Pardo returned to Felipe. Upon the river Mateo several caciques had rule, the most powerful of whom was Otima, whose territory was on the west bank of the river, near the Ocklawaha. To the north was the domain of Macaya, and to the south that of Ays. Satourioura, the bitter enemy of the Spaniards, occupied the country between St. Augustine and the San Mateo River, east and north, and so cut off all communication between the Spanish forts by land. The hostility of this chief could not be appeased, and his proximity to the two most important posts was peculiarly annoying to Menendez, who determined to attack Satourioura with all the available force he could command. Four detachments of seventy men each, one of them under the command of Menendez himself, marched out, hoping to surprise the Indian chief; but the wily savage was on the alert, and, after a fruitless effort, the Spaniards returned to their posts. It seemed highly important, at this stage of affairs, that Menendez should visit Spain. He was aware that injurious reports had been circulated against him at home, and many complaints and accusations made before the Spanish court, all of which he believed it his duty to refute in person before his sovereign. Within the eighteen months that had elapsed since his landing in Florida, Menendez had carefully examined the entire coast from Cape Florida to St. Helena, had built forts at St. Augustine, San Mateo, Avista, Guale, and St. Helena, and had established block-houses at Tequesta, Carlos, Tocobayo, and Coava, in all of which he had left garrisons and religious teachers. In most of this work Menendez had been personally engaged, while he was responsible for all; and mind and body now required change and relaxation. Believing that the interest of the colony, as well as his own, would be advanced by his going to Spain, Menendez caused a small vessel of twenty tons to be built, and in the spring of 1567 he set sail in his frail bark, accompanied by thirty-eight persons, including the crew. Fair weather and favorable winds brought them rapidly on their way, and in seventeen days they reached the Azores, making, it was said, seventy-two leagues a day, a statement hardly to be believed. They arrived safely in Spain, and Menendez was received with great favor at court. But empty honors were not what the Adelantado wanted. He required prompt and substantial aid to enable him to carry on his enterprise; and this he found not easily to be obtained. He was kept in anxious suspense at court, chafing under unnecessary delay and the obstacles thrown in his way, all the while fearful that the French might avail themselves of his absence and make an attack upon his colony in retaliation for the massacres at Matanzas and Fort Caroline. Indeed, rumors of such designs had already reached him. Those who escaped those terrible massacres and returned home had scattered widely through France the bloody story of their countryman's sufferings at the hands of the Spanish leader, and the indignation of the people grew stronger day by day as they witnessed the indifference of the French court. It was said that they intended to take the matter into their own hands, and that an avenger was about to appear. |
