1539 Lands in Florida in
late May; marches
through upper Florida;
major battle at
Napituca; guerilla war
with Apalachees;
winter camp at Anhaica
(Tallahassee)
1540 Following Indian Departs from Accompanies an
trails, expedition Compostela with an exploring expedition
swings in a wide arc army of 300 cavalry up the northwest coast
through Georgia, South and infantry, several as _almirante_ (second
Carolina, North hundred Indian allies, in command).
Carolina, and Alabama, friars, and a long Expedition abandoned
encountering major pack train. Alarcón after its leader is
chiefdoms. Bloody sails up the Gulf of killed fighting
battle at Mabila California with three Indians.
(central Alabama) in vessels. Expedition
October penetrates American
Southwest, reaches
Háwikuh in July;
engages the Zuñi in
battle; Coronado
wounded.
Tovar explores Hopi
villages in Arizona.
Alarcón reaches mouth
of Colorado River.
Cárdenas sights the
Grand Canyon.
Alvarado marches to
Acoma, Pecos, and
beyond.
1541 Winters among Journeys to Quivira Gathers a new
ancestral Chickasaw (Kansas). Winters at exploring fleet for
Indians of Mississippi Tiguex; puts down an Mendoza.
and suffers attack by Indian revolt.
them; crosses
Mississippi in May;
travels in great loop
through Arkansas;
discovers buffalo
hunters and a people
who live in scattered
houses and not in
villages; endures
severe winter at
Autiamque
1542 Reaches the rich The army departs for Dispatched by Mendoza
chiefdom of Anilco; at home in April, arrives to continue
nearby Guachoya, De in Mexico City in exploration of the
Soto sends out scout mid-summer. Coronado northwest.
parties who find reports to Viceroy _June:_ Sails from
nothing but Antonio de Mendoza on Navidad, near Colima,
wilderness; De Soto expedition, resumes Mexico.
dies, is succeeded by his governorship of _September 28:_ Sights
Moscoso. After Nueva Galicia. Months “a sheltered port and
fruitless wandering in later Coronado is a very good one.” This
east Texas, Moscoso tried for is San Diego Bay,
retraces route to mismanagement of which he names San
Anilco expedition but Miguel.
acquitted. _October:_ Sails
through the Channel
Islands, suffers fall
and injury.
_November:_ Reaches
the northernmost point
of the voyage, perhaps
Point Reyes,
California, but turns
back.
1543 Winter camp at Aminoya _January 3:_ Dies on
on Mississippi; San Miguel Island
survivors—half the (Channel Islands).
original number—build _February:_ The fleet
boats to float sails north again,
downriver; in perhaps as far as
September, they reach Oregon before turning
Pánuco River, in Mexico back.
_April:_ Fleet arrives
back at Navidad, nine
months after embarking.