Istachatta in Hernando County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Pressing Onward
Florida De Soto Trail
— July 23, 1539 —
Conquistador Hernando de Soto and his advance guard of 12 horsemen have just passed the small Indian village of Vicela…
I have decided not to stop here. We must press on further north and reach the chiefdom of Apalachee before winter sets in. There is also talk that several villages have formed a war band of about 40 men to ambush us.
”During these days the Indians never slept and were always on alert. They ambushed their enemies so cautiously and skillfully that not a single Spaniard who strayed so much as a hundred yards from camp escaped being shot or beheaded at once.”
- Garcilaso de la Vega
La Florida of the Inca
The Native Path
Warfare was common among peoples of the Southeast. Warriors attacked other villages to assert their dominance. The taking of ears, scalps, and heads demonstrated bravery in battle and elevated their social standing.
The Conquistador Trail
Children as young as 10 years old were brought on expeditions. They served as apprentices to tradesmen, like blacksmiths, or acted as squires to nobles. But, during battle they were expected to pick up arms and fight. Hernando de Soto was 14 years old when he left home to seek his fortune in the New World.
Erected by Florida De Soto Trail, Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Park Service. (Marker Number 12.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Native Americans • Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is July 23, 1539.
Location. 28° 39.048′ N, 82° 16.626′ W. Marker is in Istachatta, Florida, in Hernando County. Marker can be reached from Lake Lindsey Road (County Road 476) 0.1 miles east of Lingle Road (County Road 439), on the left when traveling east. Marker is located within Lake Townsen Regional Park, near the north end of the main parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 28011 Lake Lindsey Road, Istachatta FL 34636, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Great Train Wreck of 1956 (approx. 2.3 miles away); Whistle Markers (approx. 3.2 miles away); “Nous Resterons La” (We Are Staying Here) (approx. 4.8 miles away); Air Force Association (Florida) (approx. 4.8 miles away); Florida Veterans of World War I (approx. 4.8 miles away); Submarine Service Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away); Korean Service Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away); “Let Valor Not Fail” (approx. 4.8 miles away).
More about this marker. Marker is a large, composite plaque mounted vertically within a heavy-duty wooden kiosk.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Florida De Soto Trail
Also see . . . De Soto’s Expedition to North America. De Soto set out from Spain in April 1538, set with 10 ships and 700 men. After a stop in Cuba, the expedition landed at Tampa Bay in May 1539. They moved inland and eventually set up camp for the winter at a small Indian village near present-day Tallahassee. (Submitted on October 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 423 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on November 21, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on November 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.