The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1851-04-11
From De Bow's Riuiew.
Early History of Mississippi-De Soto
War Of the Nafchez. ntc 81

to you in July last. By this notice, you have
so publicly committed me TO the ful6Ilment O
this promise, that. not TO perform il at all would
be as disgraceful as TO perform it ILL., must
therefore, now commence task which, till this
time, many circumstances Of private nature
had banished from my remembrance.
aliude to my promise TO furnish you with an
Historical Sketch, social, political and CONNER
caat, Of the state Of Mississippi. As preliminary
to this, it will be necessary for me to sketch,
briefly, that portion ofits history which preceded
the occupation of that territory now lying within
its borders, by the United States Of America.
Ot tile early discovery of this country, there
IS no history which. in all its details, can be cali
ed authentic. Though not quite SO apocrypha as
that which narrated the adventures of Jason in
search ct the golden fleece, or Hercules stranr-
ling lions and other monsters, with which Gre
can and Roman traditions have entertained
mankind, the story of the adventures Of De Soto
and his companions is, at best, believed only be-
cause no more probable or authentic account ex-
lists.
The territory now embraced within the limits
OF the state of Mississippi, was '.yast, unbro-
ken, untroddeD, magnificent wilderness save
the almost lmperceplible traces by which the un,
tutored savages gided from one Of their hunting
grounds to another and the few sparse villages
which they inhabited, until the year 1910. 1910
years ago. when De Soto with his followers.
numbering about 900 mounted men, led on by
thirst of conquest and gold, penetrated acoss the
eastern boundary of the state, to that portion Of
1t now called Yallobusha county. They there
took possession Of several hundred wirwams.
which the affrighed Indians abandoned at the
approach OF this warile and formidable train.
Here they found an abundance of corn, which
afforded subsistence to themselves and their hor-
ses during winter Of unusual severity, and
fortified themselves against attack from the only
quarter which threatened them, as well as the
nature OF their situation allowed. Well it was
tor them that they did so: Cor the Spaniard Of
that day. with all his chvalry and pride, was hnt
a barbarian; and bis cruelty and injustice to the
native tribes, whnm they had driven from their
rude but happy homes. soon provoked retaliatorv
measures from the latter The Indians attacked
their notifications with such courage and sue
cess that every habitation was burnt, about forty
OF the Spanards and their horses killed their
arms and clothing consumed, and indeed almost
everything essential to the comfort, subsistence
and protection Of advenurers, far from their
native land, and in the midst of impiacabIe en-
mics, was DESTROYED
The Spaniards were thus forced, temporarily.
to adopt another position, which, having done.
and having repaired their losses SO far as inge>
nuty and labor could accomplish it, they recon.
menced their march westwardIv, and in a few
days struck the eastern bank of the Mississippi
river. Having here consumed month IN con
boais, they finally succeeded in landing
on the western bank Of the river, at point (as
It is supposedly short distance below Helena,
Arkansas They then penetrated Arkansas in
search of gold, as far as the Arkansas river, and
at this point DE Soto having lost about half Of
his gallant band, and their horses, and being
without sufficient provisions for the residue. de.
spariDg OF the object which had hitherto anima-
ted his bosom.--the discovery of gold,-and de-
ected and dispirited by all these causes, resolved
10 return TO the bank of the Mississippi river
and there establish a colony, until he could send
70 Cuba then occupied by SPAIN for ships and
a reinforcement of men and arms, with which
% take permanent and secure possession of his
newly.discovered country, doubtless with the
view Of founding mighty and populous empire,
With which his memory would forever be assoc
,iated. But alas, .or ambitiun-that aspiring
quality, "lor mans illusion given!" No sooner
lad DE Soto reached the Mississippi river, than
le was seized with fatal disorder, which ter
minated his life. Before his death, he appointed
Luis de MusccSo, his successor, in command |
10 prevent the Indians from mutilatng his body, |
iis followers excavated green oak, in which |
hey laid bis body. They then nailed a plank |
,ver it. and threw it into the river, where it |
unk.* This occurred inthe year l542.
Ii would be naturally supposed that the rem |
lant of his band would now desire to return to |
cuba; but, although dispirted, they were undis- |
Mayed and under the command of Muscoso |
hey wandered about for many months among |
he western wlIds. suffering all the misery which |
want. exposure and danger could iniict, til the |
rear l543, when the survivors returned again /
o the Mississippi River. and prepared to leave !
he country, and by descending the river to the /
ea, seek a more hospiabe land Having af.
er several months, constructed a number OF
arge open barks, the sides of which were de-
ended by hides against the Indian arrows, they
They now numbered about $50 men. They
ound their way beset by hostile Indians, who
n their light canoes, would pass or run around
hem, and discharge showers of arrows among
hem, during several days and nights At length /
weary Of submission TO this harrassing species
{ warfare, about fifty of the Spaniards manned
pirogue. and boldly sailed ont to attack the
avages. But ailwere cut off-not one returned |
Phe remainder, al the end Of twenty days, /
cached the sea, and shortly afterwards arrived I
/ Spanish town on the coast Of Mexico. where /
hey were kindly treated. But adventurers like
hese are always wholly untitled BY their pecu-
Jar habits Of life. for any permanent occupation
# home; and from this point they s,on dis
ersed, and wandered whithersoever accident
II fortune might lead them. Thus ended the
omantic expedition of Hernando de Soto+
In 1852, GAO years after De Sotos invasion
s American territory,) La Sale descended the
dississippi River to The point of its confluence
With the Gulf Of Mexico, and there took formal /
essession Of the adjacent country, in the name
{ the King of France. and called it Louisiana
Ascending again he tarried among the Match
z and the 1ensas tribes of Indians. and then /
vent to Chickasaw Fort. short time after-
yards, ne went TO France, and in 1854 returned
With colony, bound for the mouth of the Mis-
issippi River; but unfortunately missing the
Dngitude, he landed on the coast of Texas, I
where, for several years, the unhappy coIonsts. I
ssailed by varions hardships, wasted away, and /
"A Sale HIMSELF not long afterwards, was mur-
cred BY some of the dscontented and actious
urvvnrs.
In 1908, NJ dIberyille was authorized by the I
french King again to coIonize the regions bor.
ering on the lower Mississippi. He landed at |
,hin Tsla "A off fhe month ol pasea s,o.,la rivor