The Battle of Bloody Mose Commemoration in St Augustine FL

 THE “BATTLE OF BLOODY MOSE”

June 21-22, 2014

St. Augustine, Florida

 
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – June 12, 2014 – 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 part in 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 FortMose, 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 and Sunday, June 21-22, 2014, Florida Living History, Inc. (FLH – http://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 fifth, annual Battle of Bloody Mose Commemoration.  Now expanded to a two-day heritage Event, the award-winning Battle of Bloody Mose historical re-enactment will take place from 10AM to 3PM at Fort Mose Historic State Park – 15 Fort Mose Trail; St. Augustine, Florida; 32084.  White, black, and Native American re-enactors and volunteers from across Florida and the Southeast will participate in this heritage Event, presenting living-history demonstrations and interpretati

• WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22, 2014 / 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 across the Southeast, Florida Living History, Inc., will present heritage interpretations and demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, including:

• Saturday, 10AM – The Battle of Bloody Mose Commemoration 2014 begins; Spanish and British soldiers, militia, and auxiliaries will fire a musket and cannon volley to open this heritage Event; join us in stepping back in time to June 25, 1740 – British-occupied Fort Mose and Spanish San Agustín, the day before the fateful battle!;
• 11AM – Re-enactment of the “Battle of Bloody Mose” by Spanish and British troops;
• Following the battle re-enactment, living-historians will answer visitors’ questions about this significant episode in Florida’s and America’s history and pose for photographs;
• Noon -1PM – Lunch and refreshments may be purchased on-site from food vendors; Local Fare Farm Bag ( www.localfarefarmbag.com/ ) will offer locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables for sale;
• During the afternoon, listen to FLH’s member unit, Theater with a Mission, perform an excerpt from a period Spanish play;
• Meet and talk with 18^th-century living-historians throughout the Event;
• Volunteers from the National Park Services’ Castillo de San Marcos National Monument ( www.nps.gov/casa/ ) will offer period artillery demonstrations throughout Bloody Mose 2014;
• Demonstrations of colonial Florida textile arts will take place throughout the Event and Gullah arts and crafts will be displayed and on sale;
• Children will have the opportunity to join members of the Florida Public Archaeology Network/Northeast Region in a fun, educational “build/discover a fort wall” activity!

• COST: Admission to this heritage Event is free.  The Museum admission fee is $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 free shuttle service provided by Old Town Trolley Tours.

The National Park Service has named the annual Battle of Bloody Mose Commemoration as a Member Program of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom ( www.nps.gov/ugrr ).  Viva Florida, a division of the Florida Department of State promoting Florida culture and heritage, has named the Battle of Bloody Mose Commemoration as a 2014 Featured Event ( www.vivaflorida.org/Events/The-Battle-of-Bloody-Mose-Commemoration ).

The annual Battle of Bloody Mose heritage Event is sponsored by the 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational Florida Living History, Inc., by Fort Mose Historic State Park, and by The Fort Mose Historical Society, in partnership with Viva Florida 500, the National Park Service, and with the support of volunteers from the Fort Mose Militia and other historical re-enactment groups.  Financial support for this Event is provided, in part, by the Florida Humanities Council ( www.flahum.org/ ), the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the generosity of NTE Solutions ( www.ntesolutions.com/ ).

For more information on Florida Living History, Inc., please contact us at info@floridalivinghistory.org or phone us, toll-free, at 1-877-FLA-HIST (1-877-352-4478)!