In fact, the little islands had no water at all. The Tortugas were dry. The word “dry” began to appear on early maps of the area to warn ships they could find no fresh water there.
FAITH LAPIDUS: President Thomas Jefferson took an interest in the little islands as a place that could help protect ships traveling in a large area of water called the Florida Straits. He proposed a military base be built there. In eighteen twenty one, the United States took control of Florida and its islands. The military fort was not begun until eighteen forty eight, long after Jefferson’s death.
The fort was to be the home of one thousand five hundred men and four hundred fifty huge cannon. It would become the largest American fort made of brick building material.
CHRISTOPHER CRUISE: Fort Jefferson was never really completed. It had to be worked on continually. The salt air, wind, water and sand quickly caused problems. The weight of the brick walls made them sink into the sand.
It was difficult to keep the fort in good repair. As workers built new parts of the fort, others worked at repairing damage caused by the environment.
Slaves and prisoners did the building and repair work at the fort. Most of the prisoners were army troops. They had been found guilty of some crime and ordered to serve their sentences at Fort Jefferson.
In eighteen seventy four, the American army left Fort Jefferson. Modern artillery made the fort no longer useful.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
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2013-11-25