DeSoto's Lunar Activity
by Donald E. Sheppard
Lunar Circumstance Tables compiled by Dr.
Dennis L. Mammana, Resident Astronomer,
Natural Science Center, Balboa Park, San
Diego, California - Published July 4th, 1997.
THIS WAS THE FIRST LUNAR INTELLIGENCE EVER USED
IN THE STUDY OF HERNANDO DE SOTO'S CONQUEST!
MOON PHASE DATE ACTIVITY at PLACE NAME
FIRST YEAR, 1539
NEW MOON - MAY 18 - DESOTO SAILS FROM HAVANA
FULL MOON - JUNE 01 - DESOTO LANDS IN FLORIDA
NEW MOON - JULY 15 - THE ARMY LEAVES PORT FOR INTERIOR
FULL MOON - JULY 31 - RIDERS SENT TO ADVANCE THE ARMY
NEW MOON - AUG. 14 - DESOTO CONDUCTS HERNANDO MASSACRE
FULL MOON - AUG. 29 - ARMY MOVES UP FROM OCALE TO SUWANNEE
FULL MOON - SEP. 27 - DESOTO TAKES TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
NEW MOON - OCT. 12 - ANASCO GETS LOST FINDING PANAMA CITY
HARVEST M. - OCT. 27 - 30 LANCERS RECROSS THE GREAT SWAMP
NEW MOON - NOV. 10 - SHIPS LEAVE PORT ON SPRING TIDES
FULL MOON - NOV. 25 - TROOPS PLAN: CROSS THE GREAT SWAMP
ARMY WINTERS AT PANAMA CITY AND MARIANNA
SECOND YEAR, 1540
FULL MOON - MAR. 22 - ARMY TAKES LARGE TOWN IN GEORGIA
FULL MOON - APL. 21 - LOST IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SCOUTS SENT
FULL MOON - MAY 20 - ARMY ENTERS NORTH CAROLINA AT DAWN
FULL MOON - JUNE 19 - DESOTO DEMANDS WOMEN AT CHIAHA
NEW MOON - JULY 04 - ARMY TAKES HIWASSEE ISLAND, TENNESSEE
FULL MOON - JULY 19 - WEEKEND ARMY ENTERS COOSA, GEORGA
FULL MOON - AUG. 17 - SCOUTS LEAVE COOSA, ARMY IN 3 DAYS
FULL MOON - SEP. 16 - ARMY TAKES TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
HARVEST M. - OCT. 15 - ARMY TAKES CAHABA, TUSCALUSA'S HOME
FULL MOON - OCT. 18 - WAR AT TUSCALUSA'S MABILA FORTRESS
FULL MOON - NOV. 14 - ARMY LEAVES MAUVILA BATTLE GROUND
NEW MOON - NOV. 28 - RAFTS MOVED TO BLACK WARRIOR RIVER
FULL MOON - DEC. 13 - SCOUTS CROSS THE TENNESSEE RIVER
STRIKE MADE INTO MISSISSIPPI DURING THIS WINTER
THIRD YEAR, 1541
NEW MOON - APL. 26 - DESOTO'S ARMY STRIKES FORTRESS ALIBAMO
FULL MOON - MAY 10 - DESOTO ENTERS & EXPLORES KENTUCKY
NEW MOON - JUNE 24 - DESOTO TAKES VINCENNES, INDIANA
FULL MOON - JULY 08 - SCOUTS SIGHT LAKE MICHIGAN AT CHICAGO
FULL MOON - AUG. 06 - STRIKE ILLINOIS, BEST VILLAGES IN AMERICA
FULL MOON - SEP. 06 - ARMY CROSSES MISSISSIPPI RIVER
HARVEST M. - OCT. 05 - ARMY STRIKES TULA, MISSOURI
NEW MOON - OCT. 19 - ARMY ENTERS ARKANSAS
FULL MOON - NOV. 03 - ARMY TAKES JACKSONPORT, ARKANSAS
ARMY SPENDS WINTER EXPLORING MISSISSIPPI RIVER'S WEST BANK
FOURTH YEAR, 1542
NEW MOON - MAR. 16 - ARMY CROSSES WHITE RIVER IN SNOWS
FULL MOON - MAR. 31 - ARMY TAKES NILCO PROVINCE - MONTICELLO
NEW MOON - APL. 15 - ARMY MOVES QUIETLY TO LAKE VILLAGE
FULL MOON - APL. 29 - SCOUTS EXPLORE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
HALF MOON - MAY 21 - DESOTO DIES, BURIED AFTER DARK
FULL MOON - MAY 28 - DESOTO'S BODY DUG UP & PLACED IN RIVER
FULL MOON - JUNE 27 -ARMY LEAVES ARKANSAS FOR LOUISIANA
FULL MOON - JULY 26 - ARMY RELAXES IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA
FULL MOON - AUG. 25 - ARMY INTO MISSION TEJAS, TEXAS
FULL MOON - SEP. 24 - SCOUTS EXPLORE WESTWARD FROM AUSTIN
HARVEST M. - OCT. 23 - ARMY RETURNS TO NAGUATEX
FULL MOON - NOV. 22 - ARMY STRIKES PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS
ARMY SPENDS THE WINTER BUILDING BOATS FOR ESCAPE
LAST YEAR, 1543
FULL MOON - APL. 20 - ARKANSAS RIVER FLOODS IN EARLY SPRING
NEW MOON - JULY 02 - LEAVE ARKANSAS RIVER TO PASS GREENVILLE
FULL MOON - JULY 16 - REACH GULF OF MEXICO, INDIANS ATTACK
NEW MOON - JULY 31 - SABINE LAKE, CAREEN VESSELS, HIGH TIDES
FULL MOON - AUG. 14 - AT MATAGORDA FOR 8 DAYS ON FULL MOON
NEW MOON - AUG. 30 - SPRING TIDES - PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS
FULL MOON - SEP. 10 - ARMY FINDS MEXICO'S RIVER OF PANUCO