On March 12, 1728, the illusion of safety under the guns of the fort was shattered. Colonel John Palmer from Charles Town, with an army of 300 Englishmen and 100 Indians, came to St. Augustine to punish Yamasees and fugitive slaves AN334 who, with Spanish backing, had been mounting raids on Carolina plantations. For three days, in full view of the Castillo, Palmer pillaged and burned, killing 30 Yamasees and taking 15 prisoner. His men breached the Hornwork palisade at old Nombre de Dios and stole everything used to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments, down to the crucifix and the censer. To manifest their hatred of Catholicism, they made "bitter ravages to the images" and set fire to the church and convent. Not one soldier was sent out to defend the Yamasees and negros who had turned to Spain for protection; the guns of the fort stayed silent. (Bushnell SS)