Firepower
This deck housed San Cristobal’s main cannon battery. In terms of firepower, it was the strongest of the fortification’s defenses. If attackers got past defenses farther east, cannon from here would drive them back.
Did Spanish troops ever fire in anger from this deck? In 1797 the British attacked from two miles to the east. Cannon from this battery and those in San Cristobal’s outer defenses shelled the British to keep them from landing east of the San Juan Islet.
This deck, completed around 1790, looked then much as you see it today. It provides excellent view of several garitas (sentry boxes). You can also see here remnants from the Spanish-American War (1898) and World War II (1941-1945)
An officer of the Puerto Rican infantry directs a musket firing drill. This scene would have been common on this level of San Cristobal.
There was not just one national uniform for the Spanish army in the late 1700’s Each of the many regiments that served in Puerto Rico wore distinctive decorations, such as the bright red labels, sleeves, and collars you see on this infantry company.
Marker is on Bulevar del Valle.
Courtesy hmdb.org
