[1][2] In 1835, a visiting planter from the West Indies described the St. Joseph's Plantation in an article published in the Farmers’ Register titled, ‘On the Soils and Agricultural Advantages of Florida’ as: "...the most valuable plantation soil wise, in Florida...Hernandez had with great perseverance and success overcome the laborious difficulties of clearing and draining new land, and has under culture upwards of 200 acres of these swamp lands.

The judgment of this observer was that the swamp-lands of East Florida and especially those lying on the branches of the Matanzas and Halifax Rivers are superior in strength and character for the production of sugar to the most valued lands of the West India Islands.

"[3] The House Report 58, 28th Congress, 1st Session, January 19, 1844, described the St. Joseph's Plantation as being located next to the Graham Swamp at the head of the Matanzas River.

The historical descriptions of the St. Joseph's Plantation describes it as a large and sophisticated operation that was worked and maintained by at least 80 enslaved people.

U.S. Army and militia troops abused the plantation during their occupation by halting all of its operations and pilfering and destroying much of its resources and property.

On January 23, 1836, Hernandez was notified that reinforcements were not coming so he ordered Major Putnam to abandon Bulowville and move his troops to St. Joseph's/Camp Brisbane.

As a result, Major Putnam abandoned St. Joseph's Plantation/Camp Brisbane on January 28, 1836, and move all of his troops and people enslaved at the farm to St. Augustine.