This version of the route is based on the work of Professor Charles Hudson and others who have attempted to reconstruct the entire route. There is good scholarly consensus for some segments, but other parts of the route will remain in dispute unless new archeological evidence is forthcoming.
De Soto Expedition. Dashed line indicates uncertain route. *Known site, possibly visited by De Soto ·Uncertain Site From Havana, Cuba De Soto National Monument *Ucita ·Cale *Aguacaliquen ·Napituca 15 Sept 1539 Spaniards route Timacua Indians, take 200 prisoners *Auta *Anhaica Winter camp 1539-40 ·Toa *Ichisi Ocmulgee National Monument *Cofitachequl May 1540 Encounter with female ruler ·Xuala *Chiaha *Coosa Political center of an important Indian chiefdom ·Itaba Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site *Piachi ·Mabila? 19 Oct 1540 Major battle with Chief Tasculuza and his allies *Apafalaya Mound State Monument ·Chicaza Winter camp 1540-41 Spaniards beat off Indian attack in spring ·Alibamu *Quizquiz *Aquixo *Casqui Parkin Archeological State Park *Pacaha Scouting parties *Coligua *Calpista *Tanico ·Tula ·Autiempque Winter camp 1541-42 *Anilco ·Amihoya Winter camp 1542-43 Spaniards build boats to take them down the Mississippi ·Guachoya 21 May 1542 Death of De Soto Scouting parties Expedition continues under Moscoso after De Soto’s death *Chaguate *Naguatex ·Nondacao ·Aays ·Guasco Scouting parties
It was a disaster, nevertheless. Twelve soldiers and a white woman still with the army—she was pregnant—were dead as were several score pigs and 57 horses, the latter mourned as deeply as the men, for they were the army’s true strength. But once again, they rallied, improvised forges for retempering their weapons, replaced the shafts of their lances, and learned to patch their clothing with woven grasses, pounded bark, and pieces of Indian blankets.
On May 9 or so, 1541, after more battles, they reached the Mississippi at—no one knows, but it seems to have been south of Memphis. While they were marveling at the river’s size (this is from Elvas), 200 dugout canoes approached in perfect order. In each canoe warriors, painted with ochre and bedecked with plumes of many colors, stood erect, protecting the oarsmen with feathered shields and bows and arrows. The chief man of the fleet sat in his canoe underneath an awning and likewise each lesser chief in his canoe. The Spaniards had seen panoply before—bearers carrying their caciques on feathered litters while flute players marched beside—but nothing like this. Misunderstood stories of such spectacles, as we will see later, caused considerable trouble for the expedition Mendoza sent north under Coronado during this same period.