THE “BATTLE OF BLOODY MOSE” COMMEMORATION

THE “BATTLE OF BLOODY MOSE” COMMEMORATION

June 23-24, 2012
St. Augustine, Florida

– In the early morning hours of June 26, 1740, the village of Gracia Real
de Santa Teresa de Mose (mo-SAY), the first, legally sanctioned free black settlement in the continental U.S.,
became the site of the bloodiest battle in Florida’s portion of the War of Jenkins’ Ear. That day saw Florida’s
Spanish soldiers, black militia, and native Yamassee auxiliaries locked in a “clash of empires” with invading
English and Scottish troops from Georgia, a battle that culminated in desperate, hand-to-hand fighting as Fort
Mose, St. Augustine’s northern-most defense, burned around them. The decisive Spanish victory at “Bloody
Mose” was one of the factors that ended British Georgia’s invasion of Spanish Florida. On Saturday, June 23, 2012, Los Presidiales de San Agustín/The Presidiales of St. Augustine, a member unit
of Florida Living History, Inc. (FLH – www.floridalivinghistory.org ), along with Fort Mose Historic State Park (
www.floridastateparks.org/fortmose/ ) and the Fort Mose Historical Society ( www.fortmose.org/ ), will host the
third, annual Battle of Bloody Mose Commemoration. The Battle of Bloody Mose historical re-enactment will
take place from 10AM to 3PM at Fort Mose Historic State Park, in St. Augustine, Florida. White, black, and
Native American living-history volunteers from across the state and from Georgia – including the Fort Mose
Militia and Clann Nan Con/The Highland Independent Company of Darien – will present heritage
interpretations and demonstrations.
• WHEN: Saturday, June 23, 2012 / 10AM to 3PM
• WHERE: Fort Mose Historic State Park / 15 Fort Mose Trail, off of N. Ponce de Leon Blvd./ US 1, in
St. Augustine, FL
• WHAT: Partnering with Fort Mose Historic State Park and the Fort Mose Historical Society, as well
as living-history volunteers from Florida and Georgia, Los Presidiales de San Agustín (The
Presidiales of St. Augustine), a member unit of Florida Living History, Inc., will present heritage
interpretations and demonstrations, including:
o 10AM-11:30AM – step back in time to June 25, 1740 – Fort Mose and San Agustín, the day
before the fateful battle; children will have the opportunity to become Colonial Ranger
Scouts;
o 11:30AM – re-enactment of the “Battle of Bloody Mose” by Spanish and British troops;
o Noon -1PM – the presentation of a period Spanish play by FLH’s member unit, Theater with
a Mission; African dancing and drumming presented by Who’s Knockin’ Entertainment;
o 1:30PM-2:30PM – step back in time to June 25, 1740 – Fort Mose and San Agustín, the day
before the fateful battle; children will have the opportunity to become Colonial Ranger
Scouts;
o 2:30PM – re-enactment of the “Battle of Bloody Mose” by Spanish and British troops;
o 3PM – meet the 18
th
-century living historians.
o Volunteers from the National Park Services’ Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (
www.nps.gov/casa/ ) will be offering period artillery demonstrations throughout the day.
• COST: Admission to this heritage Event is free. There is a Museum admission fee of $2.00 per
adult; children age 5 and younger are free.
• PARKING: Parking at Fort Mose Historic State Park is limited. Visitors are encouraged to use the
free parking at the Old Jail (167 San Marco Ave.) and travel to and from the park via the
complimentary shuttle service provided by Old Town Trolley Tours.
In addition to the Battle of Bloody Mose heritage Event, on Sunday, June 24
th
, the National Park Service will
host The Gullah Geechee and Black Seminole Diaspora Cultural Heritage Festival at Fort Mose Historic
State Park. From 11AM to 6PM, the festival will highlight the traditional crafts, language, music, and foodways
of the Gullah Geechee and Black Seminole Diaspora that developed in Florida, the Caribbean, the Indian
Territories, Texas, and Mexico. Admission to the Cultural Heritage Festival is free.