USA > Alabama > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period, v. 1 > Part 3
USA > Georgia > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period, v. 1 > Part 3
USA > Mississippi > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period, v. 1 > Part 3
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1540
October
Mighty Chief : I bid you welcome. I greet you as I would my brother. It is needless to talk long. What I have to say can be said in a few words. You shall know how willing I am to serve you. I am thankful for the things which you have sent me, chiefly because they were yours. I am now ready to comply with your desires.
The Governor replied in true Spanish style, failing not to assure the Chief that, even in distant Indian countries through
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GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
which he passed, he had heard of his greatness and power. CHAPTER This interesting scene occurred below Line Creek, in the I. present county of Montgomery. Both journalists agree that De Soto had advanced thirty-six miles below Tallase. Re- posing at this town the space of two days, preparations were made to advance. An officer was sent among the horses, to find one large enough to sustain the giant Indian. A large pack-horse, the property of the Governor, was selected. Ap- pareled in a rich suit of scarlet, and a cap of the same, given to him by De Soto, the Chieftain, who was a head taller than any of his attendants, mounted upon his horse, with his feet nearly trailing on the ground. Onward the lofty and graceful Mobilian rode, side by side with the Governor. Marching 1540 October through the territory embraced in the present counties of Montgomery, Lowndes, and the south-eastern part of Dallas, the expedition arrived at a town called Piache, seated on a peninsula formed by the windings of a large river, "the same which runs by Tallase, but here grown much wider and deeper." * This was the Alabama. On the march hither, a distressing disease broke out among the Spaniards, from the want of salt. The death of several, together with the loathsome condition of the sufferers, spread alarm in the camp. Those who afterwards used ashes with their food, from a weed recommended by the Indians, escaped the dreadful malady.t
* Garcollasso, p. 310. Portuguese Narrative, p. 722.
t Gareellasso, pp. 369-370.
26
DE SOTO IN ALABAMA,
CHAPTER I.
The town of Piache was strongly fortified. Its name is probably preserved in a large creek which flows into the Alabama, on the northern side, called Chilache. The Indians having no canoes, soon constructed rafts of dry logs and cane, upon which the troops were wanted to the northern or western side of the Alabama-according to the conviction of the writer, in the upper part of the county of Wilcox .*
1540 October
The expedition assumed a southern direction, and marched down the western side of the Alabama, over the soil of the present county of Wilcox. De Soto began to read the Mobilian Chief. He wasstill proud and distant, and evidently felt that he was a prisoner. Upon the whole route he had been studiously engaged in consulting with his principal men, and in constantly sending runners to the capital with mes- sages. De Soto suspected that he meditated schemes, which aimed at the destruction of the Spaniards. His suspicions were further awakened. when Villabos and another cavalier were believed to have been killed by his subjects. When asked about them, Tuscaloosa indignantly replied, "I am not their keeper." High words ensued between him and De Soto; but the latter restrained himself until an opportunity offered of taking deep revenge on the Chief for his insolence and the death
* Biedma says that De Soto occupied two days in passing the river ; and he learned from the Indians that Narvaez's barques touched at the mouth e. the river (the Alabama) in search of water, and that a christian, named Teodoro, was still among the Indians below,-and they exhibited to De Soto a dagger which they had obtained from him. p. 72.
35
27
GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
of the two Spaniards, On the third day of the march CHAPTER from Piache, they passed through many populous towns, well I. stored with corn, beans, pumpkin's, and other provisions. In the meantime, Charamilla and Vasques, two able and discreet cavaliers, were despatched in advance to discover if any con- spiracy was going on at the capital. Before daylight, on the fourth morning, De Soto placed himself at the head of one hundred horse, and an equal number of foot, and marched rapidly in that direction with the Chief, leaving Moscoso, the camp-master, to bring up the larger portion of the troops. At eight o'clock the same morning, the 18th October, 1540, De Soto and Tuscaloosa arrived at the capital, called Maubila. It 15-10 October 18 stood by the side of a large river, upon a beautiful plain, and consisted of eighty handsome houses, each capacious enough to coutain a thousand men. They all fronted a large public square. They were encompassed by a high wall, made of immense trunks of trees, set deep in the ground and close together, strengthened with cross-timbers, and interwoven with large vines. A thick mud plaster, resembling handsome masonry, concealed the wood work, while port-holes were abundant, together with towers, capable of containing eight men each, at the distance of fifty paces apart. An eastern and a western gate opened into the town. The writer is satisfied that Maubila was upon the north bank of the Alaba- ma, and at a place now called Choctaw Bluff, in the county of Clarke, about twenty-five miles above the confluence of the Alabama and Tombigby. The march from Piache. the time occupied, the distance from Maubila to the bay of Pensacola-
3%
28
DE SOTO IN ALABAMA,
CHAPTER computed hy Garcellasso and the Portuguese Gentleman at
. I. . eighty-five miles-and the representations of aged Indians and Indian countrymen, that here was fought the great battle be- tween De Soto and the brave Mobilians, have forcibly contri- buted to make that impression upon his mind.
De Soto and Tuscaloosa were ushered into the great public square of Maubila with songs, music upon Indian flutes, and the graceful dancing of beautiful brown girls. They alighted from their chargers, and seated themselves under a "canopy of state." Remaining here a short time, the Chief requested that he should no longer be held as a hostage, nor required to follow the army any further. The Adelantado hesitated in reply, which brought Tuscaloosa immediately to his feet, who walked off with a lofty and independent bearing, and entered one of the houses. De Soto had seareely recov- ered from his surprise, when Jean Ortiz followed the Chief and announced that breakfast awaited him at the Governor's table. Tuscaloosa refused to return, and added, "If your Chief knows what is best for him, he will immediately take his troops out of my territory." In the meantime, Charamilla, one of the spies, informed the Governor that he had discovered over ten thousand men in the houses, the subjects of Tusca- loosa and other neighboring Chiefs; that other houses were filled with bows, arrows, stones and clubs ; that the old women and children had been sent out of the town, and the Indians were at that moment debating the most suitable hour to capture the Spaniards. The General received this startling intelligence with the deepest solicitude. He secretly sent word to his men
1540 October 18
29
GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
to be ready for an attack. Then, anxious to avert a rupture, CHAPTER by regaining possession of the person of the Chief, he ap- I. proached him with smiles and kind words, but Tuscaloosa scornfully turned his back upon him, and was soon lost among the host of excited warriors. At that moment a principal 1540 October 18 Indian rushed out of the same house, and loudly denounced the Spaniards as ROBBERS, THIEVES and ASSASSINS, who should no longer impose on their great Chief, by depriving him of a liberty with which he was born, and his fathers before him. His insolence, and the motions which he made to shoot at a squad of Spaniards with a drawn bow, so incensed Baltasar de Gallegos, that, with a powerful sweep of his sword, he split down his body and let out his bowels ! Like bees in a swarm the savages now poured out upon the Spaniards. De Soto placed himself at the head of his men, and fought face to face with the enemy, retreating slowly and passing the gate into the plain. His cavalry had rushed to rescue their horses, tied outside the walls, some of which the Indians came upon in time to kill. Still receding, to get out of the reach of the enemy, De Soto at length paused at a considerable distance upon the plain. The Mobilians seized the Indian slaves, packed upon their backs the effects of the expedition, which had now arrived and iay scattered about, drove the poor devils within the walls, knocked off their irons, placed bows in their hands, and arrayed them in battle against their former masters. In the first sally, De Soto had five men killed and many wounded, himself among the latter number. Having cap- tured the baggage, the victors covered the ground in advance
30
DE SOTO IN ALABAMA,
CHAPTER of the gate, and rent the air with exulting shouts. At that
I. moment the Governor headed his cavalry, and followed by his footmen, charged upon the savage masses; and, with a terrible slaughter, drove them back into the town. The Indians rushed to the port-holes and towers, and shot upon the inva- ders clouds of arrows, compelling them again to retire from the walls. A small party of Spaniards were left in a perilous situation. Three cross-bow men, an armed friendly Indian, five of De Soto's guard, some servants and two priests, not having time to join the others when first attacked in the square, took refuge in the house set apart for their command- er. The savages sought an entrance at the door, but the unhappy inmates bravely defended it, killing many of the assailants. Others clambered upon the roof to open the cor- ering, but were as successfully repulsed. Separated from their friends by a thick wall, and in the midst of thousands of enemies panting to lap their blood, their destruction appeared inevitable. During the long struggle for existence, the holy fathers engaged in earnest prayer for their deliverance, while the others fought with a desperation which rose with the occasion.
.
1510 October 18
Seeing the Spaniards again retreat, the Indians rushed through the gates, and dropping down from the walls, en- gaged fiercely with the soldiers, seizing their sweeping swords and piercing lances ! Three long hours were consumed in the terrible conflict, first one side giving way and then the other. Occasionally, De Soto was strengthened by small squads of horsemen who arrived, and without orders, charged
31
GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
into the midst of the bloody melee. The Governor was every CHAPTER where present in the fight, and his vigorous arm hewed down I. the lustiest warriors. That sword, which had often been dyed in the blood of Peruvians, was now crimsoned with the gore of a still braver race. The invincible Baltasar de Gallegos, who struck the first blow, followed it up, and was only equalled by the commander in the profuse outpouring of savage blood. Far on the borders of the exciting scene rode his brother, Fray Juan, a Dominican friar, who constantly beckoned him to quit the engagement on foot, and take the horse which he bestrode, in order to fight the better. But Baltasar, gloating 1510 October 18 on blood, heeded him not ; when presently an Indian arrow, which made a slight wound upon the back of the worthy father, caused him to retire to a less dangerous distance. In- deed, during the whole battle the priests kept the plain, watched the awful carnage with intense anxiety, and often fell upon their knees, imploring Almighty God to give victory to the Spaniards.
At length the matchless daring of De Soto and his troops forced the Indians to take a permanent position within Mau- bila, closing after them its ponderous gates. The sun began to lower towards the tops of the loftiest trees, when Moscoso and the last of the army arrived. He had strangely loitered by the way, allowing the soldiers to scatter in the woods and hunt at their leisure. His advanced guard heard at a distance the alarum of drums and the clangor of trumpets. With beating hearts they passed back the word along the scattered lines, from one to the other, and soon the hindmost rushed to
32
DE SOTO IN ALABAMA,
CHAPTER the support of their exhausted and crimson-stained comrades. I. Joined by all his force, De Soto formed the best armed into four divisions of foot. Provided with bucklers for defence, and battle-axes to demolish the walls, they made a simultaneous charge, at the firing of an arquebuse. Upon the first onset, they were assailed with showers of arrows and dreadful mis- siles. Repeated blows against the gates forced them open. The avenues were filled with eager soldiers, rushing into the square. Others, impatient to get in, battered the stucco from the walls, and aided each other to climb over the skeleton works. A horrible and unparalleled carnage ensued. The horsemen remained on the outside to overtake those who 1540 October 18 might attempt to escape. The Indians fought in the streets, in the square, from the tops of the houses and walls. The ground was covered with their dead, but not one of the living entreated for quarters. The Spaniards were protected with bucklers and coats of mail, while the poor Indians were only covered with the thin shield which the Great Spirit gave them at the dawn of their existence. The troops entered the town in time to save the two priests and their compan- ions, who had so long held out against such fearful odds. The battle, which now waxed hotter and more sanguinary than ever, cannot be as graphically described as the heroic deeds on either side so justly deserve. Often the Indians drove the troops out of the town, and as often they returned with increased desperation. Near the wall lay a large pool of delicious water, fed by many springs. It was now disco- lored with blood. Here soldier fell down to shake the intense
33
GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
thirst created by heat and wounds, and those who were able rose again, and once more pitched into a combat characterized by the most revolting destruction of human life. For some time the young females had joined in the fight, and they now contended side by side with the foremost warriors, sharing in the indiscriminate slaughter. Heated with excitement, smarting with his wounds, and provoked at the unsubdued fierceness of the natives, De Soto rushed out alone by the gate, threw himself into his saddle, and charged into the town. Calling, with a loud voice, upon "Our Lady and Santiago," he forced his charger over hundreds of fighting men and women, followed by the brave Nuno Tobar. While opening lanes through the savage ranks and sprinkling his traeks with blood, he rose on one occasion to cast his lance into a gigantic warrior. At that instant, a powerful winged arrow went deep into the bot- tom of his thigh. Unable to extract it, or to sit in his saddle, he continued to fight to the end of the battle, standing in his stirrups. Everywhere, that mighty son of Spain now gorged upon Alabama blood ! His fearless bounds filled the boldest soldiers with renewed courage. At length the houses were set on fire, and the wind blew the smoke and flames in all direc- tions, adding horror to the scene. The flames ascended in mighty volumes ! . The sun went down, hiding himself from the awful sight ! Maubila was in ruins, and her inhabitants destroyed !
The battle of Maubila had lasted nine hours. It was disas- trous to De Soto. Eighty-two Spaniards were slain, or died
CHAPTER I.
1540 October 18
34
DE SOTO IN ALABAMA,
CHAPTER in a few days after the engagement. Among these were I. Diego de Soto, the nephew of the Governor, Don Carlos En- riquez, who had married his niece, and Men-Rodriquez, a cavalier of Portugal, who had served with distinction in Africa and upon the Portuguese frontiers. Other men of rank and blood lost their lives in the terrible conflict, some of whom died in great agony, being shot in the eyes and in the joints of their limbs. Forty-five horses were slain-an irreparable loss, mourned by the whole expedition. All the camp equipage and baggage were consumed in the house where the Indians had stored it, except that of Captain Andres de Vasconcellos, which arrived late in the evening. All the clothes, medicines, instruments, books, much of the armor, all the pearls, the relics and robes of the priests, their flour and wine, used in the holy sacrament. with a thousand other things which a wilderness could not supply, perished in the flames. The Mobilians were nearly all destroyed. Gareellasso asserts that above eleven thousand were slain. The Portuguese Gentle- man sets down the number at two thousand five hundred killed within the walls alone. Assuming a point between the two estimates, it is safe to say that at least six thousand were killed in the, town and upon the plains, or were afterwards 1540 October 18 found dead in the woods. These authors also disagree as to the fate of Tuscaloosa-the one contending that he was consumed in the flames, and the other that he decamped upon the arrival of Moscoso, at the solicitation of his people, attended by a small guard, and laden with rich Spanish spoils.
1753035
GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
35
It is more probable that the Black Warrior remained in his CHAPTER capital, desiring not to survive the downfall of his people .* I.
Upon the ruins of Maubila the Spaniards passed the first night, in confusion and pain. sending forth groans and eries that fell upon the distant air like the ravings of the damned ! In every direction a sickening and revolting sight was presented. In the slowly receding fire, piles of brave Mobilians cracked and fried upon the glowing coals ! Upon the great square, pyramids of bodies, smeared with blood and brains, lay still unburnt. Outside the walls, hundreds lay in the sleep of death. still hot from their last desperate exertions, and copi- ously bleeding from the large orifices made by lances and swords, and discoloring the beautiful grounds upon which they had so often sported in their native games. All the Spaniards were wounded except the holy fathers, and were, besides, exhausted, famished, and intoxicated with the most fiendish desperation. Seventeen hundred dangerous wounds demanded immediate attention. It was often that a soldier had a dozen severe ones, with barbed arrows rankling in his flesh. But one surgeon of the expedition survived, and he was slow and unskilful. Everything, in his department, was devoured by the terrible element. Those who were slightly wounded, administered to those whom the Indians had pierced
1540 October 18
1
* In describing the battle of Maubila, I have carefully consulted the Portuguese Narrative and Garcellasso. I find that they are. in the main, su-tained by Biedma. See Gareellasso, pp. 312-331-Portu- guese Narrative, pp. 722-725-Biedma, pp. 74-78.
36
DE SOTO IN ALABAMA,
CHAPTER deepest. As the soldiers of Cortez did in Mexico, they opened I. the bodies of some of the savages, and with the fat obtained, bound up the wounds with bandages torn from the garments of the soldiers who were killed. Others rushed to the woods, obtained straw and boughs, and formed against the walls beds and imperfect covering for the wounded and dying. Al- though severely pierced himself with arrows, and bruised with missiles, yet the generous De Soto unselfishly gave his whole 1540 October 18 attention to his men. During that miserable night, many of the unhappy Spaniards joined the priests in fervent appeals to their Heavenly Father, for the alleviation of their wretched condition.
They remained within the walls eight days, and then re- moved to the Indian huts upon the plain. De Soto sent out foraging detachments, who found the villages abounding in provisions. In the woods and ravines, Indians were found dead, and others lay wounded. The latter were treated with kindness by the Spaniards, who fed them and dressed their wounds. Females of incomparable beauty were captured upon these excursions, and added to those who were taken at the close of the battle. From them, the Governor was astounded to learn the deep schemes which Tuscaloosa had planned to capture his army, weeks before his arrival at Maubila. To the Tallases, who complained to him that their Chief had given their people to De Soto as slaves, he replied : " Fear nothing; I shall shortly send the Spaniards back from my conutry to Tallase in chains, led by your people, whom they have enslaved."
2
-
37
GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
The priests, monks, and best informed laymen, went into CHAPTER convention to determine the propriety of substituting corn I. meal for flour in the celebration of Mass. They decided that bread made of pure wheat, and wine of the juice of the grape, were required for consecration. After this, the fathers, in lieu of the chalices, altar dresses, chasubles, and other sacred ornaments, which had been consumed by fire, made some robes of dressed deer skins, erected rude altars and read the introitus and other prayers of the Mass on Sundays and feasts, omitting the consecration. This unusual ceremony was de- nominated the DRY MASS.
While referring to the religious exercises of the Spaniards, it is proper to allude to some of their vices. Upon the whole journey from Tampa Bay to this place, they had passed much of their leisure time in gambling. This vice was common to all classes : those of rank often bet high, staking their money, jewels, horses, effects, and even their female slaves ! The fire of Maubila destroyed their cards. They now made others of parchment, painted them with admirable skill, and loaned these packs from one company to another, continuing to gam- ble under trees, upon the river banks, and in their rude huts.
The report which De Soto had received upon his first arrival at Maubila, that Maldinado and his vessels awaited him at the bay of Pensacola, was now fully confirmed by the females whom he had captured. Refreshed by this good news, which determined him to plant a colony in the wilder- ness, he dismissed a Chief of that country whom Maldinado had brought into his camp, while at Apalache Anaica. He had
1540 October
a
38
DE SOTO IN ALABAMA,
CHAPTER always treated him with kindness, and they parted upon the I. most friendly terms. The Chief set out for Ochus. When it became known in camp that the ships had arrived, joy succeeded the sadness which had universally prevailed. Some of the most distinguished cavaliers secretly talked of sailing from Ochus to Spain, and others to Peru, each resolv- . ed upon quitting De Soto and his fortunes. He heard of the conspiracy with painful solicitude, and determined to ascertain if it was founded in seriousness. One dark night he disguised himself and cautiously mnoved about the camp. Approach- ing the hut of Juan Caitan, the treasurer, he overheard an earnest conversation, which satisfied him of the truth of what 1540 November had been intimated. De Soto was startled at the faithless schiemers. It altered his plans. He now dreaded to march to Ochus, for he well knew that some of these cavaliers had once deserted Pizarro, leaving him on the island of Gorgonne. He reflected, that his means were exhausted, his hopes of finding a gold country, thus far, blasted, and that he had nothing to tempt the cupidity of recruits; even the pearls, all he had to exhibit of his discoveries, having shared the fate of the other effects. These things, connected with a desire to thwart the plans of the conspirators, influenced him to turn his back upon his ships, laden with provisions, clothes, arms, and every thing which the whole army needed.
De Soto became gloomy and morose. Sometimes, in the midst of his desponding fits, a hope of yet finding a gold region shot across his mind, but, like a flashing meteor, it exploded in darkness, leaving him in deeper despair ! He resolved,
:
39
GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
however, to strike into the wilderness. The wounded had CHAPTER recovered enough to march, and he gave orders to break up I. the camp. On Sunday, the 18th of November, 1540, a direction was assumed to the north. The order fell like a clap of thunder upon the unwilling cavaliers. But they obeyed, 1540 November 18 for he threatened to put to death the first man who should even think of Maldinado and his ships .* The expedition traversed an extremely fertile, but uninhabited country, called Pafallaya, now embraced in the counties of Clarke, Marengo, and Greene, and, at the expiration of five days, passed the town of Talepataua, and reached another called Cabusto. This was "near a river, wide, deep and with high bluffs."t The Spaniards had now arrived upon the Black Warrior, and near the modern town of Erie. Fifteen hundred Indians advanced in battle array, shouting that a war of "fire and blood" was what they desired. They remembered the destruction of their friends at Maubila, and they were determined to be revenged. Severe skirmishing ensued. The Spaniards drove the savages into the river ; some crossed over in canoes and others swam; and on the opposite side they were joined by a force estimated
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