Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-21
MEMPHIS.
Earliest History of the Sito Known
TO Man-D eSOtO's Great Rat
tie at Fort Pickering.
Remote Historical Events Revived
and Brought to Light.
BY COUSIN NoURMA.

BY COUSIN NoURMA.
For the PUBLIC LEDGER
This city, which is at present one of
the most important centers of the q at
West, has romantic history, from the
thrilling incidents of which skilful
writer might weave fascinating web of
story.
Memphis occupies magnificent loca-
tion on the fourth Chickasaw bluff, and
hence its pseudonym of Bluff City. The
northern portion of the city was once
known as Fort Assumption. The modern
classical (2) name of this notorious suburb
is now known by the inexpensive title of
Pinch. The main business portion of the
place has grown far away from the origi-
nal position of the fort, ard its glorious
future promises an expansion to which
its previous size will be reckoned as a
village.
The most interesting incidents of its
romantic history refer far back to the
period when the Spaniards placed their
heavy mailed hands and iron-shod feet on
the natives, and haughtily lorded it over
the proud kings. Their tyranny is not
lessened in weight or degree by the mel
lowing memories of time. The blood
stains of their atrocities are not hidden
from our view by the antique MOSES
which cling about the vestiges of those
days of conquests and bloody war.
The Portuguese and Spanish historians
Of that period concur in their reports
that the object of DeSoto's adventurous
campaigns was to explore the wilds of
the South, hoping TO discover the Foun-
tain of Youth. After his unsuccessful
search through the savannas of Georgia
and magnolia swamps of Alabama, his
command crossed the Tombigbee in
Mississippi; thence he pursued north
westerly course and arrived on the bluff
where Memphis is now situated. This
occurred in the spring season of l54l,
and here the Spanish chieftsin first
viewed, with wonder and amaze ment, the
ceaselessly rolling current of the great
inland sea, which he named Rio del Es-
piritu Santo, the River CT the Holy
Ghost.
Moscosa, historian, whose dates refer
to the period, in l543 published his
sketches, in which the country and
vicinity are we'll described, and he re-
cites many of the concurrent points,
which are recorded in the annals of the
Spanish cavaliers who were with the ad-
venturer. According to the records of
Bedma, and also Of Gareilasso de la
Vega, the river was called Chiscagua by
the Indians.
DeSoto found on the bluff square
mound of earth, which served as fort,
and was used as the esidence of Chiscs,
who was the cssique of the Chickassws.
This curious elevation, situated in Fort
Pickering, and now known as Jsckson's
Mound, was then named Chisca, and was
the most formidable defence which the
natives had on the banks of the great
river. 1t was surrounded by an immense
village, 10 which were eneamped the in !
Vulnerable warriors who composed the |
strength and army of the Indian nation |
known as Chickassws. This tribe was
very powerful at that time, and had a |
large number of villages and strongly |
defended forts in various portions of |
what is now North Mississippi and Ala
lama. Many evidences and traces of
these are visible now in the alluvial and |
fertile valleys which lie along the spoon
shaped bend of the Tennessee river.
DeSoto and his followers attacked the |
and Fort Chisca, and after
short and decisive engagement, routed
the host, aud carried desolation aud de-
vsstion into every portion of the natives
camp. The victor then dictated terms to
the vauquished, and located himself to
recruit bis strength and rest from the
fatigue of his eventful and triumphant
march from the surgiug Atlantic to the
banks of this tideless inland ocean. The
natives viewed the presence of the in
truders with awe, mingled with uncon-
querable hatred.
An episode Of most romantic chsrac-
ter soon happened, in which the adven.
turous and licentious Spaniard exhibited
the perfdiousness Of his kind. DsSoto
left bis beautiful wife in Spain when he
set out on his voyage of discovery. His
object was TO seek the foun-
tain of perpetual youth, Of whose wonder
ful virtue historians and poets had writ
ten and sung so much that the romantic
idea turned the heads of many wiser men.
DeSoto was actuated to the enterprise BY
a desire TO secure to himself and his wife
the blessed boon of perennial bloom and
youthful beauty, which it were supposed
would result from the use Of the fabled
waters
The Sonora DeSoto was oae Of the most
lovely and elegant ladies Of the Spanish
court. her naughty line Of descent was
.c .ka .,oaf rnhla Oo.t.lian hlood Her