A History of Florida Forts: Florida's Lonely Outposts

By Alejandro M. de Quesada

Book Overview

For centuries, Florida's natural beauty and resources have caused countless tribes, nations and countries to cast a covetous eye on the verdant peninsula. One of Florida's most attractive natural features, though--its more than one thousand miles of coastline--have made it extremely vulnerable to attack and invasion by these competing influences.

To compensate for this geographic vulnerability, the controlling factions in Florida have, throughout history, set up a wide array of fortifications to reinforce their presence and protect their holdings. Over three hundred camps, batteries, forts and redoubts have been established in Florida, from the earliest days of settlement to the present. Many of these bastions grew steadily in size, and formed the foundation for numerous Florida cities that are named for the original outposts.

Featuring the history of Florida's forts from the colonial period, Seminole Wars, Civil War and twentieth century, Florida's Lonely Outposts--by military historian and Florida author Alejandro M. de Quesada--offers a thorough exploration of the fortifications and strongholds that have played a crucial role in shaping Florida's past.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596291044
• ISBN13: 9781596291041
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: History Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.8" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

Good introduction to Florida Forts

Alejandro M. De Quesada has done a good job of introducing us to military fortifications in Florida. The author starts with the Spanish, and moves through the Territorial era, the Seminole Wars, the Civil War, and the modern era, including the Spanish-American conflict, World War I, and World War II. The volume is generously illustrated with photographs and contemporary drawings. And, there is a bibliography. But the book is lacking. There is no index! There are no end notes! While the author does cite the sources in the text, there are no page numbers to those sources. Furthermore, de Quesada has left out dozens of installations. He makes a passing mention of Fort Mellon (Sanford), but gives us no details of the Fort. He also has a photograph on page 210 of an abandoned Cold War missile battery in Key West, but no details. How about Fort San Diego in Ponte Verda Beach, or the forts (British, American, and Confederate) at New Smynra, or Fort Gatlin in Orlando? Once again, this is a good introduction to fortifications in Florida, and well worth the money for the photographs alone. I just want more.