Hernando de Soto led the first 640 European and African soldiers into America in 1540. Rich from Incan gold, he planned to settle America's "Northern Sea" in order to trade Spain's New World fortunes with China, the finest market in the world. 1000's of Native Americans in 14 States, living where cities are today, were tortured and diseased along native trails which became our highways.
Two years and 2,000 miles into conquest DeSoto' found the "Northern Sea" at Chicago but in it no tides: Lake Michigan is landlocked. Spain kept that secret for 100 years while other Europeans searched for a passage. DeSoto died of humiliation during retreat, his army fled to Mexico. They wrote the first history of what became our United States.
DeSoto's Chronicles, herein quoted from Clayton, 1993, were published by three expedition officers: the King's Agent Fernandez de Biedma, DeSoto's Personal Secretary Rodrigo Rangel, and those of a Portuguese Officer who called himself A Gentleman of Elvas. All were used to track DeSoto in this report. Garcilaso de la Vega, herein called "Inca," published a book based on interviews with survivors. Inca's writings are also quoted despite his sequence confusion.
Trail Background Moon Phases Indian Place Names