Ferdinand De Soto, The Discoverer of the Mississippi / American Pioneers and Patriots

A detailed biographical narrative traces an adventurous explorer from his early transatlantic ventures and involvement in the conquest of Peru to his later leadership of a costly expedition on the Gulf coast. It recounts the arduous overland march through Florida and the southeastern interior, the pursuit of riches, and frequent encounters that ranged from alliances to violent clashes with Indigenous communities. The account culminates in the expedition’s crossing and European recognition of the great central river, the severe attrition and hardships that beset the party, and the leader’s death, all reconstructed from contemporary reports and memoirs.