De Soto Trail 1539-1540--Under Cover of Corn
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 30° 26.395 W 084° 11.530
16R E 769659 N 3370882
Located in Lafayette Heritage Trail Park off of Heritage Park Boulevard, Tallahassee
Waymark Code: WM13W4B
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 02/27/2021
Views: 1
It’s October 5, 1539
Hernando de Soto’s army has reached the nearby village of Calahuchi -
We passed through fertile lands covered in large fields of corn - maize. While we marched, Apalachee warriors moved through the fields, attacking us at random. Exhausted, we stopped and camped in an abandoned village.
”They went to Calahuchi, and they took two Indian men, an Indian woman and jerk venison in great quantity, and there the guide who led them fled.”
- Account by Rodrigo Rangel
The De Soto Chronicles
The Native Path
The Apalachee were skilled farmers. Crops were essential to maintain their large chiefdom. Land was cleared with fire, leaving behind nitrogen-rich soil for planting. Today, many indigenous peoples still use this slash and burn method of agriculture.
The Conquistador Trail
Indian slaves were essential to De Soto’s expedition as there were not enough men to carry the tons of supplies. Enslaving the native peoples was acceptable to the Spanish since they believed the Indians were inferior.
Marker Number: None
Date: None
County: Leon
Marker Type: Roadside
Sponsored or placed by: Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Park Service, and the National Park Service
Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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