Supplies Are Low

On October 11, 1539, Hernando de Soto and his army stopped for the winter at the village of Anhayca, just north of here. With supplies running low, de Soto sent his trusted Captain Juan de Añasco south to search for a deep bay where the fleet could anchor and wait for ships from Cuba carrying provisions, while also hoping for news from de Soto’s wife Isabel de Bobadilla, Cuba’s acting Governess. An account by a Gentleman from Elvas says that de Soto learned the sea was ten leagues away, sent a captain with horse and foot soldiers, and after six leagues the captain found a town called Ochete. While de Soto was on expedition, Isabel de Bobadilla served as Governess of Cuba and, according to historical documents, capably directed the affairs of Spain’s New World holdings and sent supply ships north to aid de Soto and his troops. As word spread that the Spanish occupied the Apalachee village of Anhayca, local chiefs sent warriors to attack them, hiding in woods and fields by day to strike any Spaniard who left camp, then at night raising war cries, burning crops, and shooting fire arrows into the village.

Florida · United States