Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-10-07
NO. A..

their eyes, without the power to rescue them
All the baggage, which had just arrived, fell in
to the hands Of the enemy. This was carried
into the town amid great rejoicings, together
with the Indian captives who had brought it,
The manacles of the latter We're knocked of,
and arms placed in their hands. The fight
was still kept up outside the walls, although the
gates were shut. A reinforcement of cavalry
from the main body enabled the foot-soldiers to
shake off their thronging foes. De Soto now
headed furious charge, and the Indians were
driven into the town. Assailed by Il storm OF
arrows and other missiles from within, the Span
iardS were compelled to retire from before the
walls. Their retreat was the signal for another
ferce sally. J
In this manner the battle ragged for three
hours with varying success; the Spaniards fight.
ing liz one compact body, advancing and retir-
ing as one man. A small detachment, within
the city, sheltering themselves in q house, de-.
fended their post for many hours with Cour-
age bordering on despair. At length, the lndl-
ans were forced, by loss OF numbers, to retire
within their enclosures, army, under Moscos,
having arrived, az assault was determined upon.
ObeGient to the orders of their leader two
hundred Of the cavalry, protected by buek,ers,
dashed forward, and after repeated repulSes,
crushed IN the gates with their batte-axes. At
the same time, others clambered over the wall,
by eikine away the mud plastering for a pre-
carOus foothOid. III the streets, and from the
walls, and house-t0ps, The Indians, though fall
ing in great heaps sought desperately to over
whelm their assaunts by ;he crush OF numbers.
None asked quarter, but all fought until they
fell. The great pool, fed by many clear springs
which supplied the town with water, was Grim
soned with the blood of the dead and the dying.
Yet OF this water the Spaniard drank to ap-
ptase The thirst by which they were consumed,
aud then rejoining their companions continued
The battle. To put an end to this fierce and
dubious conflict, De Soto sprang to horse, and
with lance in hand and the battle-cry OF Our
Lady OF Sartiago!" hurled himself into the
midst OF the Indian masses, closely followed by
the gallant Nuno Tobar. De Soto, wounded
deeply in the thigh by an arrow, fought standing
in his sirrlrIS. Piercing the multitude on eve
~ side trjilHphDg some beneath the hOOfs of
thier horses. and thrusting the Fife out of innu-
merable others, the two cavaliers maintained
the sangainary conflict until night and sheer
exhaustion terminated the conflict.
ct his time, the town was set on fire, and
the flames extending themselves with great
rapidity, enyeloped with a burning girdle the
hapiess Indians who yet held possession of the
houses. Conscious Of the fate which awaited
them, those who were.at large gathered togeth-
er, and men and women precipitated themselves
upon their foes. But what impression, could
poorly-equipped and i'll disciplined thousands
make upon inen cased in defensive armor wiel-
ding infinitely superior weapons, and directed
by consumate military skill? Piled upon one
another, they fell clutching at the arqubuses,
swords; and lanceS. to the last. For nine hours
this terrible b,ttte continued. When it ceased,
the great and populous town of Mobile was
heap of ashes. and six thousand Indians lay
slaughtered around. To the Spaniards it was "a
victory purchased at a terrible price. Eighty
two Of their number were killed or mOrtally
wounded, two OF whom were kinsmen to De So
to, and not one of the survivors came out of the
battle unhurt. Seventeen hundred dangerous
wounds at,ested alike the courage of the MObi-
iians and endurance of the SpaEiards. The
latter had to mourn the loss of large number
o. horses, besides the whole of their baggage,
which, with robes of the prests, the cOnsecra-
ted vessels, and other ornaments sacred in their
worship, had been consumed in the flames.
Tidings Of his ships awaiting him in Pensa
cola Bay reached De Soto at Mobile, and caus-
ed great rejoicing among the troops, many of
whom now desired nothing better than to aban-
don the country. Among the cavaliers scheme
for their several homes. Indignant at this
De Soto moodily turned his back
upon his vessels and marching northward, took
up his winter quarters in the province of Chick
asa. Finding here supply of maize, he re-
manned for several months, but the natives, who
had for some time feigned his friendship for the
invaders, become Jealous of their prolonged
presence, and towards the Spring of l54l, in
the midst of a dark cold clustering night rush
ed into the village where the Spaniards were
encamped and set it on fire. Reused from their
,lumbers, the troops fought with such clothes
and arms as they could catch up hastily. For
Y Spaniards and not less than fifty horses were
killed in this sudden onslaught. Most of the
of the soldiers were consumed by the
ire, which also injured irretrievably much arm
)r and many weapons. Repairing these dsas
erS as best they might, they resumed their
aud after struggling for seven days
through wilderness, alternating with swamp
md forest, entered the village of Chisca, from
whence De Soto beheld for the first time, near
he lower Chckasa Bluffs, the mighty waters of
he Mississippi. Having halted three weeks to
1ui.d Piraguas, the troops crossed the river
Resuming their march along the western banks
hey finally encamped for the winter in the prov
nee of P;icabas in Arkansas. At this place
llcu 81 utl! OIllH the interpret HI tic
If l54Z, De Soto, now hopeless of finding gold,
md changing from his sterner mood to pro-
Ound melancholy, as he contemplated his
osses and his continual disappointments, de-
cended the Washita, and after marching dis
ance Of one hundred and fifty leagues, halted
II the province of Guaychoya, encamping in
he village at the confluence of the Red River
With the Mississippi. At this place he COM
nenced the building OF two brigantines, send
ng out detachment in the meantime to ascer-
ain the course Of the great river and the dis
lace to the sea. In eight days the troopers
eturned and reported the route impraeticable,
y reason Of the swamps and rivers by which 1t
1as Obstructed.
Hoping to recruit his own failing strength,
nd that Of his exhaused followers in the Oppo-
ite province Of Quiaualtanqu, De Soto sent
messenger to the caciqHe of that tribe, IN the
icinity Of the modern Matches, demanding his
omage, on the ground that he was the son OF
he Sun, and as such entitled to worship ana
bediehce.
Ill he beso," responded the chief, "let him
nv up the river between us; and will believe
i'm. If he visits my town IN peace, will re-
Give him in friendship; if as an enemy, he
hall find me ready to battle;"
Already sick of a mortal disease, De
OTTO was in no mood to retort upon the chief.
lin his Scornful reply. Tortured with anxiety.