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Each page listed below has up to 50 thumbnail photos to click on, so click on a page to discover and relive the event.

Page1 - Camp Scenes

Page2 - Battle
 

Here are 70 photos I took while attending a reenactment of an event that took place over 400 years ago in the year 1586. The reenactors made camp at the Fountain of Youth, where, in 1513 Ponce de Leon came ashore and recorded the discovery of North America. It is also the site of an ancient Indian village named Seloy. Today archeological digs are underway and artifacts recovered indicate Timucua (natives) habitation for more than 1,000 years prior to Ponce de Leon's landing.

   I arrived before many of the reenactors under threatening skies. I photographed the various reenactors around camp as they set up and rehearsed while entertaining the public that slowly trickled through. I also caught several swordsmen fencing and rehearsing their fight scenes. Click on mpgs to see short clips of their swordplay. Towards the afternoon I made my way down to one of my favorite places in St. Augustine: the Castillo de San Marcos, which is the oldest remaining European fortification in the continental states. I took some photographs of the castle. You can see them on another page. I then took a short nap after finding a quiet parking spot. When I awoke I was surprised that I had parked 1 block from where the reenactors were to start their battle. What luck!
   I helped them put up some spectator tape and unload their cannons. I then photographed their battle and marched with them through the "old town" down to the "square" where the battle concluded as the sun left the sky. It was well after dark as I walked back to my van. Traveling out of town, I gave a weary reenactor a ride back to the camp along with some of his buddies' heavy armor.
   St. Augustine is a beautiful town full of history ....... and tourists.

   Below are some links to things mentioned above and an account of the raid from a Spanish fellow from that time long ago.

Castillo de San Marcos website
 Fountain of Youth - Ponce de Leon Spring website

  -copied from Drakes Raid website-
  a letter from Pedro Menéndez Marqués to the president of the House of Trade, San Agustin, June 17, 1586

   Very Illustrious Sir, 
   I am reduced to such a situation that I do not know where to begin to relate the hardship and misery which have befallen this land. Therefore this communication will not be long, as will be observed. 
   On the 6th instant Francis Drake arrived at this port with 42 sail, 23 being large vessels and nineteen pinnaces, frigates and shallops. At dawn on the 7th he landed 500 men and with seven large pinnaces sought me forthwith in the fort. With 80 men I had in the fort I resisted him until nearly midday. In view of my resistance he sent to the ships which lay outside the bar for reinforcements, and in nine vessels landed some 2000 men and planted four pieces of artillery among certain sand dunes near the fort, with which he began to batter it. I retired as best I could, to protect my women and children (more than 200 persons).
   Having occupied the fort, the enemy took and sacked the town and burned the church with its images and crosses, and cut down the fruit trees, which were numerous and good. He burned the fort and carried off the artillery and munitions and food supplies. We are all left with the clothes we stood in, and in the open country with a little munition which was hidden. We are without food of any sort except six hogsheads of flour which will last twenty days at half a pound per head. I am reporting to His Majesty in full in the accompanying dispatch and entreat your lordship to forward it immediately, and to favour me as far and as speedily as possible, since help for Florida must come from your lordship's hands. 
Our Lord, etc. 
San Agustin, June 17, 1586. 
Pedro Menéndez Marqués

Links to the pages and photos from other years at this event:
2005
2006
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015

The Movies listed below are posted in 4 sizes. If you find your computer waiting too long for a movie to load & play - try a smaller size.
TINY - 160x120 for dial-up
SMALL - 240x160 for cable/dsl
MED - 320x240 for cable/dsl
LARGE - 480x360 for cable/dsl

Swordplay #1
1:33
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For additional reenacting information go to
Florida Reenactors Online - a website that regularly features some of my photos and articles and where you can find many links, monthly newsletters and many other resources about the American Civil War and reenacting that conflict.

Swordplay #2
1:57
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Click the links above to watch the mpgs from this event.

Quicktime 7 is required - it can be easily downloaded and installed for both Mac + Windows.
Quicktime download page

My mpgs are usually 5 min or less and are shot with my older digital camera just for your enjoyment. They are usually, but not always, clips from the battle. To see all my mpgs and links to other reenactment movies go to my "mpgs" page.

Some of my mpgs use background music
from the 97th Regimental String Band.