Abstract
Sir Francis Drake, scourge of the Spanish Main, came to Florida and destroyed St. Augustine in 1586. Judging from other battles that took place during Drake’s swing through Spain’s Caribbean empire, the Florida episode was a relatively minor affair. St. Augustine at the time was a small out-of-the-way village of about 300 persons with its only defense the small outpost, San Juan de los Pinillos. In contrast to the splendid buildings, numerous soldiers, and excellent defenses of Santo Domingo and Cartagena, St. Augustine was not very important. But in defensive tactics and in its use of manpower, the Florida town showed to good advantage; in some ways it utilized its limited defensive power more effectively than the two larger and more strongly fortified places.
Recommended Citation
Covington, James W.
(1965)
"Drake Destroys St. Augustine: 1586,"
Florida Historical Quarterly: Vol. 44:
No.
1, Article 9.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fhq/vol44/iss1/9
Included in
Accessibility Statement
This item was created or digitized prior to April 24, 2027, or is a reproduction of legacy media created before that date. It is preserved in its original, unmodified state specifically for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. In accordance with the ADA Title II Final Rule, the University Libraries provides accessible versions of archival materials upon request. To request an accommodation for this item, please submit an accessibility request form.
