Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-07-23
first you were my bride.
from the Mississippi Free Trader.)
ffEEN3N pr corn

HERMAN DE SOTO.
In attempting a hurried sketch of this dis
tinguished adventurer, we acknowledge at the
outset, the difficulty we have met with at every
step in our efforts to separate the glowing
fictions which mark the writings Of the early
historians of the discoveries CT, bur country,
from the sober truths which marked the course
of such adventurers through the different Sec
lions Of both continents. The wanderings of
Ponce de. Leon in search Of the "perennaal
Fountain" partobk Of a similar character; but
the marvellous and the wild and wonderful,
are more strongly blended in his case than
that of any other-indeed it would seem that
his historians were seized with his own wild
inaginings, and in attempting a detail of ac-
tual occurrences, SO garnished fact with splen-
did fiction, as to leave serious doubts as to the
existence Of De Leon himself and Of his wild
rambles through the Floridas:
Evidences, however, do exist of his being,
and of his almost superhuman exeriions in
attempting the discovery ofthe charmed fount,
of whose actual existence and location we
may, at a future time, attempt TO throw some
light.
To return to the subject of our present
sketch-De Soto was one of the companions
of PiZarro in the conquest of Peru, and the
consequent destruction of the empire of the
Incas-and a favored companion we should
Judge, from the fact ofhis having alnassed du-
ring the conquest so considerable an amount
of wealth, as to invest him with dignity or his
return to Spain, about 1886. .His distinguish
ed military talents, his wealth, and above all,
his wild love of daring adventure, induced his
appointment to the government of Santiago de
Cuba (l537), with permission to extend the
dominion Of Charles lst Of Spain upon the
continent, particularly upon the southwestern
a-.er Of North America.
H accord vly after having placed the at
fairs of his govern,nc&' ra nRon = sac looA h4s
and in proper train for efficiency o~ssaI aa1
absence-equipped an army for the Florida
campaign. 1t consisted of 900 infantry and
800 horsemen, a considerable army for that
early period; and from the complete equip
nent and splendid array of this large force,
it was reasonably supposed, splendid results
must follow-no less indeed than the conquest
Of some splendid territory, equal if not supe-
rior in extent with that of Cortes or PizarTo.
How sad was the reverse! how complete The
discontinue and almost the entire ann.hila-
ton of this gold-seeking horde, IS f~arleItable
to relate He sailed from. EaT1na IN May,
stance of war; which at that period was an
~ AtiS dt ~ di 9APSliShSSo Soiai
ders, and particularly those departing for wild
and unknown lands, in quest of adventure
intended to inspire their followers, and to
make a favorable impression upon those who
remained behind, and whose assistance might
be needed d~uring@sueh campaigns. It is al
most thrilling 10 look back to the pages of the
earlier chroniclers Of Spain, and read their
glowing descriptions Of the splendid pomp dis
played on such occasions, for they seem fired
with all the zeal Of the real actors, and make
themselves part and parcel of the scene.
Garciiaso de Ia. Vega, one Of those early his
t~orians, abounds in glowing descriptions of
splendid scenes, rivalling in goIgeousness the
tales of Arabia or the rich pages of Yatheck,
| that s,ore-house' of sgleador... From him we
| gather mostly the dry details of De Solos
wanderings, his wars and misfortunes.' 80
Herman, landed some time during the month
Of June at the bay of Espirito Santo., OF Holy
Ghost, now known as TAMPA Bay" a place
made famous to the world of late, by our
childish playing with the wild sons of the
Everglades of Florida. He here disembarked
his troops and sent back his larger vessels to
Cuba. directing his march northward, in
search Of mines, which were reported BY the
Indians TO exist in that quarter.
From the very commencement OF his march
SFCIy lhSh WOO SotkCStNu y I4S AotlSE3B WHO
were then not less determined. brave, or ruit
full in expedients, that those who lave oil late
years SO CALAMITY defended their homes
He, by dint Of hard fighting, Succeeded il
reaching a village some few niles from hi.
landing place, and after driving the inhabi
tants to the woods, remained for some day
in quiet possession, until he was fully pre-
pared to extend his march into the interior o
the couHtry. Florida at this time was thickl,
studded with villages, inhabited by variou
tribes or their numerous subdivisions, an,
known in most instances by the names o
their chiefs, containing generally q popula
ton Of from W to sixteen hundred souls, an
connected as aAouer, or by ties of consangu
ity with the Choctaws.
With an intelligent member Of the latte
tribe it was cur good fortune to meet som
years since he was e Of those attached {
the band which "did the state good-service
under the hero of Orleans, at TalIadeg
Emuekfa, and the Horseshoe; he vas richil
stored with Evolutionary lore Of the csden Tim