[2] Fulgencio García de Solís was appointed acting governor of La Florida on June 3, 1752.
They defeated the British decisively and destroyed the fort in the process;[4] García rebuilt the installation to serve as a settlement for black people, including escaped slaves from the British colonies to the north, seeking freedom in Saint Augustine, the capital of Florida.
[6] García condemned both the original settlers of Mose as well as slaves from the Carolinas who had fled to Florida,[7] considering them culturally and spiritually backward,[6] and ordered the black people of St. Augustine to rebuild Fort Mose at a new site north of the city.
[8] In this way, runaway slaves from Carolina living in St. Augustine were forced[6][9] to help the soldiers and citizens build the fort.
[9] However, Solis encountered resistance by the freed slaves of the city, who said they feared attacks by pro-British Indians, but he believed this indicated they actually wanted to be completely free;[10] nonetheless, they were forced to work on the fort.