Chapter I: Preface

Mr. Theodore Irving, in his valuable history of the "Conquest of Florida," speaking of the astonishing achievements of the Spanish Cavaliers, in the dawn of the sixteenth century says:

"Of all the enterprises undertaken in this spirit of daring
adventure, none has surpassed, for hardihood and variety of
incident, that of the renowned Hernando de Soto, and his
band of cavaliers. It was poetry put in action. It was the
knight-errantry of the old world carried into the depths of
the American wilderness. Indeed the personal adventures, the
feats of individual prowess, the picturesque description of
steel-clad cavaliers, with lance and helm and prancing
steed, glittering through the wildernesses of Florida,
Georgia, Alabama, and the prairies of the Far West, would
seem to us mere fictions of romance, did they not come to us
recorded in matter of fact narratives of contemporaries, and
corroborated by minute and daily memoranda of
eye-witnesses."

These are the wild and wondrous adventures which I wish here to record. I have spared no pains in obtaining the most accurate information which the records of those days have transmitted to us. It is as wrong to traduce the dead as the living. If one should be careful not to write a line which dying he would wish to blot, he should also endeavor to write of the departed in so candid and paternal a spirit, while severely just to the truth of history, as to be safe from reproach. One who is aiding to form public opinion respecting another, who has left the world, should remember that he may yet meet the departed in the spirit land. And he may perhaps be greeted with the words, "Your condemnation was too severe. You did not make due allowance for the times in which I lived. You have held up my name to unmerited reproach."

Careful investigation has revealed De Soto to me as by no means so bad a man as I had supposed him to have been. And I think that the candid reader will admit that there was much, in his heroic but melancholy career, which calls for charitable construction and sympathy.

The authorities upon which I have mainly relied for my statements, are given in the body of the work. There is no country on the globe, whose early history is so full of interest and instruction as our own. The writer feels grateful to the press, in general, for the kindly spirit in which it has spoken of the attempt, in this series, to interest the popular reader in those remarkable incidents which have led to the establishment of this majestic republic.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

_Childhood and Youth._

PAGE

Birthplace of Ferdinand De Soto.--Spanish Colony at Darien.--Don Pedro de Avila, Governor of Darien.--Vasco Nuñez.--Famine.--Love in the Spanish Castle.--Character of Isabella.--Embarrassment of De Soto.--Isabella's Parting Counsel. 9

CHAPTER II.

_The Spanish Colony._

Character of De Soto.--Cruel Command of Don Pedro.--Incident.--The Duel.--Uracca.--Consternation at Darien.--Expedition Organized.--Uracca's Reception of Espinosa and his Troops.--The Spaniards Retreat.--De Soto Indignant.--Espinosa's Cruelty, and Deposition from Command. 21

CHAPTER III.

_Life at Darien._

Reinforcements from Spain.--Aid sent to Borrica.--Line of Defense Chosen by the Natives.--Religion of the Buccaneers.--The Battle and the Rout.--Strategy of Uracca.--Cruelty of Don Pedro.--The Retreat.--Character of Uracca.--Embarrassment of Don Pedro.--Warning of M. Codro.--Expedition of Pizarro.--Mission of M. Codro.--Letter of De Soto to Isabella. 37

CHAPTER IV.

_Demoniac Reign._

Giles Gonzales.--Unsuccessful Contest of De Soto with Gonzales.--Bold Reply of De Soto to the Governor.--Cruelty of Don Pedro to M. Codro.--Assassination of Cordova.--New Expedition of Discovery.--Revenge upon Valenzuela.--Reign of Don Pedro at Nicaragua.--Unwise Decision of De Soto. 55

CHAPTER V.

_The Invasion of Peru._

The Kingdom of Peru.--Its Metropolis.--The Desperate Condition of Pizarro.--Arrival of De Soto.--Character of the Spaniards.--Exploring Tour of De Soto.--The Colony at San Miguel.--The General Advance.--Second Exploration of De Soto.--Infamous Conduct of the Pizarros. 72

CHAPTER VI.

_The Atrocities of Pizarro._

Fears of Pizarro.--Honorable Conduct of the Inca.--The March to Caxamarca.--Hospitable Reception.--Perfidious Attack upon the Inca.--His Capture and Imprisonment.--The Honor of De Soto.--The Offered Ransom.--Treachery and Extortion of Pizarro. 90

CHAPTER VII.

_The Execution of the Inca, and Embarrassments of De Soto._

Pledges of Pizarro.--His Perfidy.--False Mission of De Soto.--Execution of the Inca.--His Fortitude.--Indignation of De Soto.--Great Embarrassments.--Extenuating Considerations.--Arrival of Almagro.--March Towards the Capital. 107

CHAPTER VIII.

_De Soto Returns to Spain._

Dreadful Fate of Chalcukima.--His Fortitude.--Ignominy of Pizarro.--De Soto's Advance upon Cuzco.--The Peruvian Highway.--Battle in the Defile.--De Soto takes the Responsibility.--Capture of the Capital and its Conflagration.--De Soto's Return to Spain.--His Reception there.--Preparations for the Conquest of Florida. 126

CHAPTER IX.

_The Landing in Florida._

The Departure from Spain.--Arrival in Cuba.--Leonora and Tobar.--Isabella Invested with the Regency.--Sad Life of Isabella.--Sailing of the Expedition.--The Landing at Tampa Bay.--Outrages of Narvaez.--Noble Spirit of Ucita.--Unsuccessful Enterprises.--Disgrace and Return of Porcallo. 144

CHAPTER X.

_The March to Ochile._

The March Commenced.--The Swamps of Florida.--Passage of the Morass.--Heroism of Sylvestre.--Message to Acuera.--His Heroic Reply.--Fierce Hostility of the Indians.--Enter the Town of Ocali.--Strange Incident.--Death of the Bloodhound.--Historical Discrepancies.--Romantic Entrance to Ochile. 163

CHAPTER XI.

_The Conspiracy and its Consequences._

The Three Brother Chieftains.--Reply of Vitachuco to his Brothers.--Feigned Friendship for the Spaniards.--The Conspiracy.--Its Consummation and Results.--Clemency of De Soto.--The Second Conspiracy.--Slaughter of the Indians.--March of the Spaniards for Osachile.--Battle in the Morass. 180

CHAPTER XII.

_Winter Quarters._

Incidents of the March.--Passage of the River.--Entering Anhayea.--Exploring Expeditions.--De Soto's desire for Peace.--Capture of Capafi.--His Escape.--Embarrassments of De Soto.--Letter of Isabella.--Exploration of the Coast.--Discovery of the Bay of Pensacola.--Testimony Respecting Cofachiqui.--The March Resumed. 199

CHAPTER XIII.

_Lost in the Wilderness._

Incidents at Achise.--Arrival at Cofa.--Friendly Reception by Cofaqui.--The Armed Retinue.--Commission of Patofa.--Splendors of the March.--Lost in the Wilderness.--Peril of the Army.--Friendly Relations.--The Escape from the Wilderness.--They Reach the Frontiers of Cofachiqui.--Dismissal of Patofa.--Wonderful Reception by the Princess of Cofachiqui. 220

CHAPTER XIV.

_The Indian Princess._

Crossing the River.--Hospitable Reception.--Attempts to visit the Queen Mother.--Suicide of the Prince.--Futile search for Gold.--The Discovery of Pearls.--The Pearl Fishery.--The Princess a Captive.--Held in Silken Chains.--Her Escape.--Location of Cutifachiqui.--The March Resumed. 240

CHAPTER XV.

_The Dreadful Battle of Mobila._

The Army in Alabama.--Barbaric Pageant.--The Chief of Tuscaloosa.--Native Dignity.--Suspected Treachery of the Chief.--Mobila, its Location and Importance.--Cunning of the Chief.--The Spaniards Attacked.--Incidents of the Battle.--Disastrous Results. 259

CHAPTER XVI.

_Days of Darkness._

The Melancholy Encampment.--The Fleet at Pensacola.--Singular Resolve of De Soto.--Hostility of the Natives.--Beautiful Scenery.--Winter Quarters on the Yazoo.--Feigned Friendship of the Cacique.--Trickery of Juan Ortiz.--The Terrible Battle of Chickasaw.--Dreadful Loss of the Spaniards. 276

CHAPTER XVII.

_The Discovery of the Mississippi._

The Fortress of Hostile Indians.--Its Capture.--The Disastrous Conflict.--The Advance of the Army.--Discovery of the Mississippi River.--Preparations for Crossing.--Extraordinary Pageants.--Unjustifiable Attack.--The passage of the River.--Friendly Reception by Casquin.--Extraordinary Religious Festival. 296

CHAPTER XVIII.

_Vagrant Wanderings._

Trickery of Casquin.--The March to Capaha.--The Battle and its Results.--Friendly Relations with Capaha.--The Return Journey.--The March Southward.--Salt Springs.--The Savages of Tula.--Their Ferocity.--Anecdote.--Despondency of De Soto. 315

CHAPTER XIX.

_Death of De Soto._

Ascent of the Mississippi.--Revenge of Guachoya.--Sickness of De Soto.--Affecting Leave-taking.--His Death and Burial.--The March for Mexico.--Return to the Mississippi.--Descent of the River.--Dispersion of the Expedition.--Death of Isabella. 334