Hispanic America USA
Colonial America
Copyright (c) 1996-97 All Rights Reserved

Spain's Independent Infantry Companies
In Florida's Colonial St. Augustine

by Frank Suddeth

Few Americans today know that for over
235 years, Spanish infantrymen were stationed
in Florida and Georgia, fighting Indians, pirates
and English soldiers. The homeward route of the
Spanish Treasure Fleets ran along miles of primitive
Florida coastline from the Keys to the Carolinas;
these sea-lanes were considered critical to the
global empire of Spain. 18th century British
intrusion into the region brought about years of
warfare between Spanish and British regular soldiers,
colonial militias, and respective Indian allies.

Unlike French or British military units in colonial
North America, Spanish fusileros at San Augustin
were not troops organized in Europe. Military
rosters reveal that the majority of these men were
born in colonial Florida. Small groups of replacements
from Cuba, Mexico, or southern Spain trickled into
the ranks over the years. The garrison at San Augustine
in the 1720's - 60's was authorized a dotacion or troop
allotment of three infantry companies, an artillery
detachment, and a troop of dragoons, about 375 effectives,
Reinforcement companies from Cuba, Mexico, and Spain
brought wartime troop levels to a thousand in the 1740's.