Audio
The Execution Wall
Transcript
Emily Ward (0:19) - Welcome to Castillo conversations. My name is Emily Ward and I'm a Public History major at Flagler College and I've been interning at the Castillo de San Marcos. I'm joined today by a special friend and a fellow resident of St. Augustine Bobby Batson. We're going to talk to you about some of the most commonly asked questions about the history of the Castillo. So Bobby, what do you want to talk about today? Bobby Batson (0:41) - So last time I was at the fort, I saw these little holes in the wall in the southeast Bastion. I'm assuming that means the army used to execute their criminals by firing squad, like along the wall. Is that true? Emily Ward (0:54) - So St. Augustine was attacked by pirates and the British many times, but all of those attacks happened while the Spanish were here. And while the Spanish were here, the fort's moat went all the way around the building on all four sides, including the one of the southeast bastion. The US filled in this eastern side of it in the 1840s, which means when the Spanish were here, the ground level at the base of the wall would have been at least six feet lower. So even if they were executing pirates and British soldiers there, which they weren't, the holes are way too high to have been from firing squads. Bobby Batson (1:28) – So, then what were little holes in the wall from because they definitely look like bullet holes. Emily Ward (1:32) - Well, there are two theories. One is that's where the US Army had their target practice while they occupied the fort, making them bullet holes. The other theory is that because this wall used to be covered in plants, the roots did damage to the coquina. Bobby Batson (1:47) - In that same area, I actually remember seeing a small furnace and I've always wondered what was that used for? Emily Ward (1:52) - It's a hot shot furnace, so the shot furnace is used to heat iron cannonballs up red hot to be fired into wooden ships, catches the ships on fire. Bobby Batson (2:02) - Wait, how did you put a hot cannonball into the cannon without burning yourself or lighting off the powder before you're ready? Emily Ward (2:09) - Very carefully. They used large iron tongs or scoops to move the shot from the furnace to the cans. The cannon has to be positioned right where you want it and you have to have a nice thick wadding of damp cloth or clay between the ball in the powder to make sure it doesn't go off. And you have to fire it very soon after loading. Because if the cannonball continues to expand with the heat, it can get stuck in the barrel and then it's time to get out of the way. Bobby Batson (2:36) - Well, sounds like the US made a lot of changes to the east water battery of the fort. Did they ever get to use the hot shot in battle? Emily Ward (2:43) - No, although there was conflict during the US period like the Seminole Wars or the Civil War, for example, the fort wasn't fired on in any battle. Bobby Batson (2:54) - Well, thank you for answering those questions. Part of me actually kind of hoped that the furnace was used for baking pies, but I see it was used for a lot more strategic reasons. Emily Ward (3:04) - Well, thank you for asking and thank you to everyone for listening to this episode of Castillo Conversations, The Execution Wall.
Description
Join Emily Ward, Flagler College Public History Intern at Castillo de San Marcos, and Bobby Batson, fellow resident of St. Augustine, for a closer look at the water battery.
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