Fort Frederica, Georgia
July 7, 1742. Spanish forces with 5,000 men stormed St. Simons Island, aiming to crush Georgia’s British colony.
Instead, they met James Oglethorpe and far fewer men in a marsh that would earn its name from battle, not blood.
Here’s how one afternoon changed Georgia’s fate, preserved in a National Monument you can explore today.
Spanish Forces Land on St. Simons Island
Spanish Governor Don Manuel de Montiano brought about 1,900 troops on 36 ships to St. Simons Island on July 5, 1742. The ships stopped near Gascoigne Bluff while soldiers came ashore with their weapons.
Montiano led a total force of about 5,000 men. His ground troops numbered around 2,000 soldiers. Oglethorpe faced this huge army with fewer than 1,000 defenders. His small force included British soldiers, local militia, and Native American allies.
Before leaving Fort St. Simons, Oglethorpe’s men jammed the cannons so the Spanish couldn’t use them.
Spanish Reconnaissance Mission Begins
On the morning of July 7, 1742, Spanish scouts headed toward Fort Frederica. Captain Sebastian Sanchez led about 115 men along Military Road that connected the two forts. The Spanish thought this narrow path was just a farm road. They didn’t know it was the main route between British forts.
Georgia Rangers spotted the Spanish approaching during their late morning patrol. The rangers quickly noticed enemy movement through the trees. Military Road was just wide enough for one wagon and ran five miles between the forts.
First Contact at Nine O’Clock
British rangers and Spanish scouts started shooting at each other around 9:00 AM. Both sides fired muskets and took cover behind trees. One British soldier died in this first fight. The other rangers ran back to Fort Frederica to warn everyone.
Oglethorpe heard the news and jumped on his horse. He rode toward the fighting with extra soldiers following him. Fort Frederica became busy as Oglethorpe left. Soldiers grabbed guns and bullets while officers shouted orders.
Battle of Gully Hole Creek
Oglethorpe quickly gathered his forces. Scottish soldiers from the Highland Independent Company joined rangers and Native American allies under his command. Gully Hole Creek crossed Military Road about 1.5 miles south of Fort Frederica.
This stream created a good spot to fight in the surrounding marsh. The battle lasted almost an hour with soldiers firing at close range. When guns were empty, men fought with bayonets and swords.
The Scottish Highlanders charged directly at the Spanish lines. Their fierce attack overwhelmed the Spanish despite having fewer men.
Spanish Forces Suffer Heavy Losses
The Spanish lost more than one-third of their men at Gully Hole Creek. Bodies lay along the road and creek as survivors ran south. Captain Nicolas Hernandez, the Spanish second-in-command, died in the battle.
His death caused confusion among Spanish troops. British soldiers captured Captain Sebastian Sanchez during the fighting. When questioned, he told Oglethorpe important information about Spanish troops and plans.
In total, 36 Spanish soldiers were killed or captured. British losses were much smaller.
British Prepare Bloody Marsh Ambush
British forces chased the retreating Spanish south along Military Road. Oglethorpe pressed forward while staying alert for possible counterattacks. Captured Spanish soldiers revealed that more Spanish troops were marching north from Fort St. Simons.
Oglethorpe went back to Fort Frederica for more soldiers. He ordered Lieutenants Southerland and Macoy to set up an ambush along the road. British soldiers hid in a half-circle in the dense forest. Their position overlooked a marsh where Spanish troops would have to pass.
Spanish Forces March Into Trap
About 300 Spanish troops marched north on Military Road in the mid-afternoon. Captain Antonio Barba led these men sent to help the morning patrol. Not knowing about the ambush, the Spanish stopped to rest by the marsh.
They set down their weapons and started making food. Soldiers took out cooking pots and collected wood for fires. They felt safe with marsh on one side and forest on the other. Hidden British soldiers watched quietly from trees and bushes.
They waited as the Spanish relaxed, completely unaware of the danger.
The Battle of Bloody Marsh Begins
British forces fired without warning from their hiding spots. Gunshots hit Spanish soldiers from several directions at once. Smoke filled the area as the ambush unfolded even though Oglethorpe wasn’t there. Colonial rangers and Highlanders kept firing into the confused Spanish ranks.
The Spanish panicked as they couldn’t see where shots were coming from in the smoky marsh. This fight became known as “The Battle of Bloody Marsh” because of where it happened, not because the marsh turned red with blood.
British Victory at Bloody Marsh
The British ambush killed about 200 Spanish soldiers in a short time. Survivors ran back toward Fort St. Simons in disorder. British forces had very few casualties. Most British injuries happened earlier at Gully Hole Creek.
This victory stopped the Spanish invasion of Georgia. The Spanish lost their will to fight after two big defeats in one day. The Spanish never tried to invade Georgia again during the War of Jenkins’ Ear.
This war got its strange name from a British captain whose ear was cut off by Spanish sailors in 1731.
Oglethorpe’s Psychological Strategy
Oglethorpe learned a French soldier had joined the Spanish. This was dangerous because the deserter knew how small the British army really was. Reports showed Spanish forces regrouping for another attack.
Oglethorpe came up with a clever plan to make his army seem larger. He spread drummers around Fort Frederica to sound like a bigger force. Then he wrote a fake letter to the deserter, pretending the man was actually a British spy.
The Spanish found this letter as Oglethorpe planned. They read his instructions for the “spy” to exaggerate British numbers until more troops arrived, so they executed the Frenchman.
Visiting Fort Frederica National Monument
Fort Frederica National Monument is located at 6515 Frederica Road on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Start at the Visitor Center to watch a 23-minute film about the fort’s history and pick up a map.
At the main site, you’ll see ruins of the fort walls, building foundations, and the King’s Magazine.
The Bloody Marsh Unit is six miles south at the end of Old Demere Road. This smaller site features information panels, a monument, and picnic tables overlooking the marsh where the battle happened.
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