Siege of Fort Mose

Battle of Fort Mose
Part of the War of Jenkins' Ear
Site of the old fort
Date 14 June 1740 Location Fort Mose, Florida 29°55′40.01″N 81°19′31.01″W / 29.9277806°N 81.3252806°W / 29.9277806; -81.3252806 Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Col. John Palmer †	Cap. Antonio Salgado Francisco Menéndez
Strength
170 regulars and Indians[1]	300 regulars some militia Indian auxiliaries free black auxiliaries[1][2]
Casualties and losses
68[3]–75 killed[4] 34 captured[3]	10 killed 20 wounded[5][6]
class=notpageimage| Location within Florida Show map of Florida Siege of Fort Mose (North America) Show map of North America

The Battle of Fort Mose (often called Bloody Mose, or Bloody Moosa) was a significant action of the War of Jenkins' Ear that took place on June 14, 1740 in Spanish Florida.^[7] Captain Antonio Salgado commanded a Spanish column of 300 regular troops, backed by the free black militia under Francisco Menéndez and allied Seminole warriors consisting of Indian auxiliaries. They stormed Fort Mose, a strategically crucial position newly held by 170 British soldiers under Colonel John Palmer.^[8] Palmer and his garrison had taken the fort from the Spanish as part of James Oglethorpe's offensive to capture St. Augustine.

Taken by surprise, the British garrison was virtually annihilated.^[8] Colonel Palmer, three captains and three lieutenants were among the British troops killed in action.^[6] The battle destroyed the fort. The Spanish did not rebuild it until 1752.^[9][10]