Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-20

documents are not at this moment Access
sible, J Ferdinand de Soto extended his ex-
petition into that country IN 1913, 4, OF
which there were two journals kept III
his army-one by private DRAGON, and
the other of high standing in his own SUITE
miIitdrie.
The latter, ON their return to Spain, was
presented to the Duke d'Alva and | un-
derstsnd, when in Madrid in 1867,
Thirty wears ailerI had ranged some Of
those conntries) was still in preservation
there. OF the map of that expedition l
have "a copy but before had obtained
that copy, or a knowledge of that map and
its relative Journals, | had completed map
| Of my own compiling, on larger scale ;
cne of which have no reason vel to doubt,
| which satisfied my scrutinies, and winch
have found corrohorated by my perso-
nal investigation of our country in part
and by an evident and honorable colncl-
dence in truihs, agreeing with the results
ofmy several inquiries.
The Spanish government permitted, as
understood in Madrid, Is copies only OF
this important and accurate Journal to he
printed for its own purposes--and one oil
these getting into the hands OF the British
Ministry, was permitted to reach The En-
elish language, on similar conditions md
| views. twas from one of ihesr impress
sions, in the library of my friend, DR.. Ben
iamin Smith Barton, of Philadelphia, That
made many conclusive comparisons, and
derived much Information.
Gen. d. Soto landed in East Florida, and
marched to the present Chickesaw country,
| then fortified place, having emIgrated
from L'Escalia in consequence OF cruel
ties and Injustice practiced against them
by Cortcz, after they had helped him by
the reduction Of Mexico and Montczums.
| NOTWITHSTANDING Inc aspect nd believe
the hcart) OF De Soto, was so far above that
of Cortez, that the Cbickesaws permitted
them TO enter their fort, and stable their
Cavalry in their empty barracks. In The
course Of that night, however, or shortly
after. the soldiers found preteyt to quar-
rel with the natives, they fought bravely
on both sides. but through this treachery
the place was burnt, with the loss CT many
lives and horses.
De Soto remained in possession, did all
in his power TO cGnciiiate the Indians, and
detached farther north, such troops as he
could spare. The left Of hcm,no doubt I'M
der Indian guides VIII Gu that great general
could not have neglected TO secure in his
interest, made for the head Of the Muscle
i,spt g., crossed The river, and fortified 10
aofa"of ground on the north hank OF the
Tennessee. below the mouth ofChowahsla,
or Elk River, into which Salole or Squirrel
river falls on the east.
The centre line was left as rear guard,
and fortified themselves on the south bank
of the Tennessee. below Penshee, and a
river, till all was safe.
The right division took the Creek war
path, which leads from the Creek country
TO the place wh, re Nashville now stands
passing the head branches of Ella River,
the upper forks Of Dnck river al The mouth
of Rock.hou.c river (whcre De Soto's adj
vance wintcred) dropping their hogs (se-
qrifide signitying a hog in the fine range
OF what still retains the appe!lation OF the
Soquil,e barrens, cnmPrehen1ing the
heads of Duck river, Elk river, Crow, and
Spqutehae creeks, district Of a hundred
miles square. where The Indians have told
me, within these fifty years, many OF The
breed of hogs sill existed /; and have
seen MANY killed between there and the
Appalachian mountains.
There can certainly he nothing eytraor-
binary, when we advert TO the Romans
having ovcr-run Spain, or to the intercourse
between Rome and the higher Spaniards
which still daily exist, that Spanish Off
Ger, on duty there, through the whole win
ter of l54i should drop Roman coin, in
a work ahere he remained on duty but !
am more conclusive. have no hesitation
in pronounciug this relic 10 have been con-
veyed ihi,her by De Solos army.
have not doubt that all the other pre-
cious relics belonged TO his command.
lhave many reasons of being to'erabIy
positive, that thu Rock-house station on
Durk rivnr y,s M. f7rthest northern point