'FINDING AFROHISTORY'

In the heart of 1816, a captivating tale unfolds—the saga of Negro Fort and its fearless leader. Let’s journey into history and meet the legendary Commanding General Garzon, whose pact with the British Royal Marines granted him control over the British Post at Prospect Bluff in Florida. 

Birth of ‘Negro Fort’  🏰

Step back to a time when Commanding General Garzon, through an alliance with the British Royal Marines, took command of the British Post at Prospect Bluff. Yet, adversity struck as American politicians and plantation owners dishonored this haven, cruelly labeling it ‘Negro Fort.’

Choosing Sides – A Quest for Freedom 🌍

Flashback to Spanish Florida, 1690s: Florida, under Spanish rule, promised sanctuary to enslaved black people for military service. Fast forward to the War of 1812, where previously enslaved fighters showcased bravery. Unlike the Spanish, the British Admiral offered not just freedom but a promise of land. The self-emancipated were trained in British military tactics, recognized as British personnel, and issued ranks.

Fortifying Freedom in the Deep South 🏡

But, plot twist! In 1815, the British troops left Prospect Bluff. General Garzon stayed put, hoping to finally call it home sweet home. Thousands of brave souls journeyed from the southern regions into East Florida, fighting their way to the fort.

The peak of ‘Negro Fort’ saw a unity of nearly 3,000 ex-slaves, Red Stick, and Black Seminole Indians—a community bound by anti-slavery and white expansionism. These allies communicated, collaborated, and coordinated with a shared purpose.

Moral Righteousness Prevails ⚖️

The Southern plantation owners couldn’t handle it, so they whined to Spain, begging them to, “Destroy the fort!” But Spain responded, “Nah, not our problem. You deal with it.” Desperate to gain control of the people living in and around the Fort, the U.S. government sent messengers to bully Garzon to surrender.

The General and his resilient crew shut them down and sent them away. Unsuccessful and embarrassed, the messengers resorted to unfair descriptions, labeling the people of ‘Negro Fort’ uncivil uppity Negroes.

Trembling with fear, white leaders frequently gave speeches filled with propaganda. They pleaded for more experienced fighters who could withstand Garzon’s forces. The U.S. government constantly received letters begging for help to destroy the fort and reclaim the African people as property.  

Impenetrable Fortification by the River 🏞️

Garzon’s Fort, overlooking the Apalachicola River in the state of Florida, stood as a symbol of resilience. A well-equipped structure, surrounded by a moat and defense wall, became an impenetrable fortress.

With military gear that could shoot explosive shells, no way U.S. forces could break in! General Garzon’s strategic brilliance dominated colonial discussions, sending shockwaves across the country.

Garzon, the Heroic Leader 🌿

General Garzon, a bold and devoted leader of African heritage, devoted himself to the resistance against slavery. With help from Indian alliances, he and his soldiers learned the terrain and used it to their advantage. 

Garzon dominated the battlefield. His men outmaneuvered White America’s land-based assaults. The General’s men intercepted supplies. American troops were desperate, and U.S. forces and the militia started eating their horses, tree bark, and other available forest critters to survive. 

The Fateful Union Jack Salute 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

On July 27, 1816, as tensions peaked, the Union Jack Flag fluttered in the wind. American forces and Garzon’s troops engaged in full-scale war. American forces positioned gunboats on the river. Both sides fired cannons back and forth.

Then, the American military deliberately heated their cannons to extreme temperatures. One of the red-hot cannonballs soared across the sky, striking the fort’s ammunition building. It was a tragic explosion! Negro Fort at Prospect Bluff had been breached. Chaos, tears, and bloodshed filled the air. 

General Garzon’s commitment echoed—No Surrender, No Compromise. No more cotton or tobacco picking. We’re Done! And, so it was. 

In the aftermath, the General and his officers were executed, but their spirit lived on. It was a poignant moment in history, where brave souls refused to bow to oppression, immortalized by the sacrifice of Commanding General Garzon.

Did you know?

Today the area is a National Historic Landmark. Fort Gadsden was built over the site.  

Digital reconstruction depicting the site as it existed in the early 19th century. A Florida Humanities Council  sponsored project.

Sources:

The Invisible War: The African American Anti-slavery Resistance from the Stono Rebellion Through the Seminole Wars. United States, Clarity Press, 2006.

Saunt, Claudio. A New Order of Things: Property, Power, and the Transformation of the Creek Indians, 1733–1816. Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Images:

Design of Negro Fort https://thewestsidegazette.com/meet-general-garson-the-soldier-who-attacked-plantations-to-free-slaves/

Embark on a thrilling journey through eight astonishing facts about Thomas Fuller (1710-1790), the enslaved mathematical genius known as the Virginia Calculator. Discover his mental triumphs that defied the shackles of slavery. 

1. The Virginia Calculator’s Mystifying Beginning

Meet Thomas ‘Negro Tom’ Fuller, a mathematical genius born in 1710. His captivating journey unfolds against the backdrop of enslavement in the United States, earning him the moniker ‘Virginia Calculator.’

2. A Stolen Childhood: Abduction at Age Fourteen

Imagine being torn from your homeland at the tender age of fourteen. Thomas endured this heart-wrenching reality when slave traders snatched him from Africa, setting the stage for a life that would defy expectations.

3. Bound for Virginia: Sold to a Plantation Owner

Thomas found himself in the hands of a Virginia plantation owner after being sold by slavers. Little did he know, the skills cultivated in his African homeland would become the foundation for his extraordinary abilities.

4. Roots of Genius: Arithmetic in West Africa

Before his abduction, Thomas immersed himself in arithmetic under the guidance of African schoolteachers. These skills became his secret weapon, allowing him to tackle complex calculations that astonished those around him.

5. The Virginia Calculator’s Feat: Complex Calculations Unleashed

Thomas Fuller, the Virginia Calculator, effortlessly solved the most complex mathematical calculations within minutes, earning widespread acclaim.

6. Mind Over Paper: Mental Math Marvel

Reach deep within yourself and step into Thomas’ extraordinary mind. He performed intricate calculations without the aid of pen and paper. What if you could do the same? What if you could mentally solve within minutes or seconds calculations unknown to even the greatest of minds? Like Thomas, you, too, would defy the conventions of time.

7. Challenge Accepted: Thomas Stuns Critics

Picture the scene as two white men from Pennsylvania challenge Thomas with seemingly impossible questions. Without hesitation, Thomas astounded them by mentally unraveling numbers at record speed.

8. Triumph of the Mind: Thomas Fuller’s Defining Moment

In a showdown against white rivals, Mr. Thomas Fuller faced a daunting challenge. The men from Pennsylvania told him to calculate – How many seconds old is a man who is 70 years, 17 days, and 12 hours? In a minute and a half, Thomas answered 2,210,500,800.

The men smirked at what they saw to be the incorrect response, but not too quickly, LOL:) Because Thomas considered leap years, his response was accurate, and observers applauded his accomplishment!

Thomas Fuller is a true marvel who turned adversity into an extraordinary legacy. 💥

http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/fuller_thomas_1710-1790.html

The Black Heroes of Mathematics

Step into the wildlife of Stagecoach Mary Fields as she battles wolves, scoffs at prejudice, and delivers mail in a style that’s part gunslinger. Get ready for a ride!

Defending the Mail: A Night to Remember

Under the moonlit Montana sky, Stagecoach Mary prepared to face a pack of trouble-causing wolves. Her only defense, a jug of whiskey and a trusty shotgun.

As Mary nibbled on small game animals like rabbits and squirrels for dinner, little did she know that the scent of her meal might have lured these creatures closer. Or perhaps the wolves saw Mary as an unwelcome guest intruding on their turf, triggering a full-on display of territorial aggression. The growls, the bared teeth, the haunting howls echoing through the night–with anxious feelings all around.

Mary, surrounded by a pack of wolves in the distance, feeling the chill of the night air, the tension rising with every howl. The encircling shadows danced around her campsite like threatening ghosts, casting a frightening spell. It must’ve been a night where fear was an unwelcome companion.

Late-night face-off with the Alpha

Yet, here’s where the story takes a turn. Mary, no stranger to adversity, didn’t cower in fear. Instead, at 6 feet tall and 200 lbs she stood her ground like a true pioneer, ready to face the alpha wolf head-on. The showdown between Mary and the alpha was like a high-noon duel, a battle of wills under the watchful eyes of the moon.

In that heart-pounding moment, the alpha wolf, use to being the boss of its territory, finally ran into someone who wasn’t about to roll over for a belly rub. It had met its match. Mary Fields, the fearless defender, stared down the aggressor, showing that even wolf howls couldn’t drown out her no-nonsense spirit. The howls may have continued, but Mary’s determination drowned out the fear.

Her dedication to herself and delivering the mail went beyond the call of duty. Beneath that night sky, Mary showcased toughness and a commitment that even a pack of territorial wolves couldn’t break. The wolves may have circled, but Mary stood tall, proving that bravery is not just for the pages of adventure stories but for real-life legends like Stagecoach Mary.

Mary’s Early Years

Born into slavery around 1832 or 1833 in Tennessee, Mary Fields embraced her freedom after the 13th Amendment in 1865. Standing at 6 feet and weighing just under 200 pounds, she was a fearless, gun-toting black woman of the Wild West. Not easily intimidated, she enjoyed visiting saloons, drinking, smoking with the fellas, and men’s clothing for a more comfortable fit. 

Bold Moves and Nuns

In her 50s, Mary made a bold move to Toledo, Ohio. Once there, she moved into Ursuline Convent of Sacred Heart – a Christian community where nuns lived. One of her responsibilities included nursing back-to-health nuns who became ill. 

Later, Mary traveled to St. Peter’s Mission, an all-girls school in Montana. Stronger than most men, she was put in charge of supervising and directing the other workers. It was there that she contributed to the construction of three stone buildings and a church.

While at the Mission school in Montana, Mary was like a tornado with a cowboy hat. Mary nearly blasted a man to death and pelted another with rocks for disrespecting her. 

During one incident, a stubborn white fellow refused to take orders from Mary because of her skin color. He tossed around the ‘n-word’ like he was auditioning for a really bad Western movie.

Well, Mary wasn’t about to let that slide. She whipped out her trusty pistol and fired a shot that probably had folks wondering if they were in a shootout or a schoolyard spat.

When the Catholic Bishops got wind of Mary’s “showdowns,” they had to ring the dismissal bell. Her closest friends, the nuns, wanted her to stay, but the Bishop had the final say. Turns out, even in the holy world of missions, Mary’s wild antics were a bit too spicy for the faith.

Guess they didn’t get the memo that Mary Fields was the sassiest sister in the West, trading rosaries for revolvers and prayers for pistol poppin’. Who says being a nun can’t be a wild ride? Stagecoach Mary, the original gangster.

The Legendary Stagecoach Mary

A remarkable turn came in 1895. In her early sixties, Mary became a Star Route Carrier for the United States Post Office in Montana. Earning the nickname ‘Stagecoach Mary’, she braved weather, wolves, and bandits while carrying mail for eight years, on a 34 mile route. Ms. Fields was the second woman, but the first African American woman to receive a Star Route contract from the United States Post Office Department.

Beyond the Stagecoach: Entrepreneurial Spirit

With the help of her friend, Mother Amadeus, Mary owned and operated a restaurant in nearby Cascade, Montana. However, success at the eatery was limited, and Mary switched to the laundry business, where she found greater success. While spreading laughter and suds, Ms. Fields had to teach a lesson (literally!) to a guy dodging laundry bills. She walked up behind him and whacked him over the head for her money—a hilarious and impactful twist in her entrepreneurial tale!🎯

Legacy and Final Rest

Stagecoach Mary, born Mary Fields, also referred to as ‘Black Mary,’ left an indelible legacy. The townspeople of Cascade had come to love and respect her. She passed away in 1914, she was 82. The community laid her to rest below the mountain trail leading to St. Peter’s Mission. 

Her powerful spirit, never-give-up attitude, bravery, and trailblazing achievements made her remarkable. From enslavement to her early years as a freedwoman to her pioneering role in the Wild West, Mary Fields proved that no challenge could hinder her path.✊🏾

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Discover Robert ‘Bob’ Lemmons Our Next Hero of the Wild West

Vintage images credit: https://www.vintag.es/2020/08/mary-fields.html