Title: Mr. Nussbaum - Hernando de Soto Biography
Headings: Hernando de Soto Biography
Hernando de Soto Biography
Hernando de Soto
Early Life
Glory and Conquest
Into the Southeast in Search of Gold
Discovery of the Mississippi River
Questionable Legacy

Content: By 1540, de Soto had reached Georgia and South Carolina in pursuit of gold mines rumored to exist in the region. Unsuccessful in his attempts to find gold, de Soto continued north into the Appalachians of North Carolina. Once again, there was no gold to be found, but de Soto spent a month in the mountains resting his horses before traveling to Tennessee and then south again toward the Gulf of Mexico to meet supply ships. While traveling south, de Soto and his men were ambushed by the Choctaw people near their fortified city of Mabila. In the battle, twenty of de Soto’s men were killed and thousands of Choctaw died. Despite the victory, de Soto and his men lost most of their possessions and many had become sick. Consequently, de Soto directed his expedition back north into Tennessee where they spent the winter. Discovery of the Mississippi River
After the winter, de Soto’s expedition traveled southwest. On May 8, 1541, Hernando de Soto discovered the Mississippi River, although de Soto was not exactly thrilled with the finding. The Mississippi River was a huge, broad river that stood in the way of his expedition.