Title

Fort San Carlos

Description

“The Battle of Fort San Carlos: Black St. Louisans during the Revolutionary War.”

On May 26, 1780, St. Louis was attacked by a force of British-allied Natives. Fort San Carlos and the surrounding battle fortifications had only been built several weeks earlier, likely using slave labor. The city’s defense was led by Spanish officers and militia. On the day of the attack, the people of St. Louis, including enslaved people, were working in the fields in preparation for the Feast of Corpus Christi. The attacking force approached the city from the fields to the North and West, killing as they went. Enslaved people and French fieldhands defended themselves as best they could as they made their way toward the safety of Fort San Carlos, but twenty-two people were killed and many more were taken prisoner. The attack was repelled with musket and cannon fire from the top of the fort. Though no names are listed in the militia rolls, it is likely that St. Louis’s Black population, free and enslaved civilians, took part in resisting the British attack and fighting for their lives.

Creator

Jim Gass

Semester

Intro to Public History

Subject

Historic Marker Nominations

Battle of Fort San Carlos

Black St. Louisans

Revolutionary War

St. Louis History

African American History and Experience

Language

English

Publisher

UMSL Digital Humanities Lab

Date

2020

Identifier

Coordinates: 38.6243248, -90.1890237