Missions Abandoned After English Attacks

Beginning in 1702, British Carolina Governor James Moore launched a full-scale attack on Spanish Florida aimed at St. Augustine and the missions along the Atlantic coast. Early in 1704, Moore mounted a campaign against Apalachee. The strongly fortified San Luis was not a target of the initial raids of 1704. On July 31, just two days before the final strike force reached San Luis, the Spaniards and Apalachee burned and evacuated the mission. Women and children were evacuated first, while men stayed behind to burn the mission and its fort, the last building destroyed, to prevent British forces from occupying it.

Tallahassee, Florida · United States