Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Named in honor of the Prince of Wales, Frederick Louis, Fort Frederica was built under the command of the British James Oglethorpe during the Anglo-Spanish conflict for control of Georgia. A place that seems to have been buried for many years bears the history of a man and the ideals that defined a nation.
A man ahead of his time
James Oglethorpe was a philanthropist with an atypical vision of life. In order to help thousands of poor people out of work or dying in debtors’ prisons, he asked England for help, and the King gracefully granted all the land between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers.
Under Oglethorpe’s direction, Fort Frederica and the town were built. The Fort followed the same classical ideas of the French engineer Vauban. Much like the Castillo de San Marcos, the Fort was constructed with tabby, a concrete composed of oyster shells.
Oglethorpe continued to be faithful to his philanthropic ideas during the Frederica establishment, allowing Salzburg Lutheran Jews and other persecuted religious minorities to settle in Georgia. He did not hesitate to oppose slavery in Georgia, just as he treated the indigenous people with respect, always respecting their customs, language, and needs.
Land cessions were always agreed upon by treaty according to Indian traditions. In addition, Oglethorpe always tried to protect the Indians from unscrupulous white traders.
A battle throws Fort Frederica into oblivion
Fort Frederica was the scene of many battles between the Spanish and British. Among them was the battle of Bloody Marsh, which took place in July 1742.
The Spanish attempted to seize British lands from Georgia to South Carolina and sent 2,000 of their soldiers to Fort Frederica, but the British ambushed them under the command of Oglethorpe. The Spanish failed to take the fort, which marked the end of their attempt to take the colony of Georgia.
Oglethorpe returned to England in 1743, disbanding the regiment he commanded. Six years later, the troops abandoned the city, causing the end of an essential source of income, leading the fort and the city into a decline that would end with the fire of 1758 that left Frederica in ruins.
This fort teaches us not just about war history but about human compassion and the great things it can do.
Fun Facts:
- Because there was already a Fort Frederick in Port Royal, South Carolina, the fort’s name was feminized.
- Fort Frederica was added to the list of national monuments in the National Register of Historic places in 1966.
- There is a free walking tour available in Fort Frederica.
- The Guale Reserve is located 1.5 miles from Fort Frederica.
- La Plancha restaurant is one of the most popular in the area and offers a wide variety of Colombian and Mexican food.
Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia
Address: 6515 Frederica Rd
Google 360-view: Link
