Title: EXPLORER HERNANDO DE SOTO FACTS
Headings: Hernando De Soto Facts
Hernando De Soto Facts
Introduction - Hernando De Soto
Hernando De Soto Early Life and Explorations
Facts about Hernando De Soto's Exploration of North America

Content: De Soto led brutal attacks against the Native Americans he encountered as he searched for treasure including silver and gold. Near present-day Mobile, Alabama the Spaniards engaged in a bloody battle with Native Americans. Both sides suffered numerous casualties. After recovering from the battle with Indians in Alabama Hernando De Soto headed back North. In 1541 he and his men spotted and crossed the Mississippi River and explored as far as modern day Arkansas and Louisiana. His exploration of North America never yielded the great riches that he had stolen in Central America. In the early part of 1542 Hernando De Soto and his men headed back towards Florida, upon reaching the Mississippi River he contracted a fever and died. His men laid him to rest near the Mississippi River. Luis de Moscoso took De Soto's place and led the Spaniards on rafts down the Mississippi River and into Mexico in 1543.