In the war of Jenkins' Ear, the Georgians were given under the command of James Oglethorpe a casus belli to attack Spanish Florida in 1740. Spain and England had been disputing ownership of the area in and around Georgia for some time when Oglethorpe brought the first colonists to Savannah, where neither country had established a permanent settlement. As part of the War of Jenkins' Ear, General James Oglethorpe set out from the newly created colony of Georgia and invaded Spanish-held land. After capturing the Spanish outposts of Fort San Diego, Fort Pupo, Fort Picolata, and Fort Mose, he marched his troops toward St. Augustine. On June 13, 1740, Oglethorpe began the siege of St. Augustine by blockading the city including the Matanzas Inlet, and the Castillo de San Marcos. Governor Montiano in the meantime had prepared well the defenses of the Castillo and the Spanish colony, by having all the inhabitants of the city take refuge inside the fort, while he held the British at bay.
Oglethorpe landed his troops on Anastasia Island across the inlet, where he placed troops and cannon batteries to fire on the city and the Castillo. He hoped that a sustained bombardment and blockade of St. Augustine would cause Montiano to surrender the city and fortress to the British. When asked for surrender, Montiano answered: "I will have the pleasure to meet you inside the castle...". The British artillery fired on the Castillo but were unable to breach the coquina walls which were at the farthest extent of the British cannon range.
Oglethorpe had captured Fort Mose at the beginning of the war, but Montiano managed to recapture it at daybreak on June 26, after a battle that left 68 dead and 34 taken prisoner. The coquina walls of the Castillo withstood British bombardment without much damage. Fearing the approaching hurricane season, the British fleet decided to sail north for safer waters. With British morale low due to the broken blockade, the defeat of the British forces holding Fort Mose, the onset of hurricane season, a lack of naval support, and knowledge that the city was now well-supplied, Oglethorpe raised the siege on July 20, 1740. On the morning of the 38th day of the siege, the British withdrew their forces from the area.
This site is where you find yourself in the main battery site with which General James Oglethorpe shelled Castillo de San Marcos. Be respectful of this beautiful historical park and leave it better than you found it. The cache you are seeking is in a unique container, not what you would normally find. Please put it back exactly where you found it in order to not arouse suspicion. Bring your own pen and if you get stuck think carefully about the words within the hint. Happy caching :)