DeSoto's Lunar Activity
by Donald E. Sheppard
Lunar Circumstance Tables compiled by Dr.
Dennis L. Mammana, Resident Astronomer,
Natural Science Center, Balboa Park, San
Diego, California - Published July 4th, 1997.
THIS WAS THE FIRST LUNAR INTELLIGENCE EVER USED
IN THE STUDY OF HERNANDO DE SOTO'S CONQUEST!
MOON PHASE DATE ACTIVITY
FIRST YEAR, 1539
NEW MAY 18 DESOTO SAILS FROM HAVANA
FULL JUNE 1 DESOTO LANDS IN FLORIDA
NEW JULY 15 THE ARMY LEAVES PORT FOR INTERIOR
FULL JULY 31 RIDERS SENT TO ADVANCE THE ARMY
NEW AUG. 14 DESOTO CONDUCTS HERNANDO MASSACRE
FULL AUG. 29 ARMY ADVANCES FROM OCALE TO SUWANNEE
NEW SEP. 12 SCOUTS EXPLORE VITACHUCO
FULL SEP. 27 DESOTO TAKES TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
NEW OCT. 12 ANASCO GETS LOST FINDING PANAMA CITY
HARVEST OCT. 27 30 LANCERS RECROSS THE GREAT SWAMP
NEW NOV. 10 SHIPS LEAVE PORT CHARLOTTE ON SPRING TIDES
FULL NOV. 25 TROOPS FROM THERE CROSS GREAT SWAMP
ARMY WINTERS AT PANAMA CITY AND MARIANNA
SECOND YEAR, 1540
FULL MARCH 22 ARMY TAKES TOA: DAWSON, GEORGIA
FULL APRIL 21 OVER SAVANNAH RIVER INTO SOUTH CAROLINA
FULL MAY 20 ARMY ENTERS NORTH CAROLINA AT DAWN
FULL JUNE 19 DESOTO DEMANDS WOMEN FOR MEN AT CHIAHA
NEW JULY 4 DESOTO STRIKES HIAWASSI ISLAND, TENNESSEE
FULL JULY 19 ARMY ENTERS COOSA, NORTH GEORGA
FULL AUG. 17 SCOUTS LEAVE COOSA, ARMY WAITS
NEW AUG. 31 DESOTO STRIKES GADSDEN, ALABAMA
FULL SEP. 16 CAVALRY TAKES TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
NEW SEP. 30 ARMY AWAITS LIGHT TO VISIT TUSCALUSA
HARVEST OCT. 15 ARMY AT CAHABA, TUSCALUSA'S BIRTHPLACE
FULL NOV. 14 LEAVE TUSCALUSA'S BATTLE GROUND - MAUVILA
NEW NOV. 28 RAFTS MOVED TO BLACK WARRIOR RIVER
FULL DEC. 13 SCOUTS MOVE ACROSS THE TENNESSEE RIVER
STRIKE MADE INTO MISSISSIPPI DURING THIS WINTER
THIRD YEAR, 1541
NEW APRIL 26 DESOTO AT ALIBAMO NEAR NATCHEZ TRACE
FULL MAY 10 DESOTO ENTERS - SCOUTS EXPLORE KENTUCKY
FULL JUNE 8 DESOTO CROSSES OHIO RIVER AT EVANSVILLE
NEW JUNE 24 DESOTO TAKES VINCENNES, INDIANA
FULL JULY 8 SCOUTS SIGHT LAKE MICHIGAN AT CHICAGO
FULL AUG. 6 STRIKE ILLINOIS, BEST VILLAGES IN AMERICA
FULL SEP. 6 ARMY CROSSES MISSISSIPPI RIVER INTO MISSOURI
HARVEST OCT. 5 ARMY TAKES TULA, HARRISON, ARKANSAS
NEW OCT. 19 ARMY ENTERS THE OZARK MOUNTAINS
FULL NOV. 3 ARMY TAKES JACKSONPORT, ARKANSAS
ARMY SPENDS WINTER EXPLORING MISSISSIPPI RIVER BANKS.
FOURTH YEAR, 1542
NEW MARCH 16 ARMY CROSSES WHITE RIVER IN SNOWS
FULL MARCH 31 ARMY TAKES NILCO PROVINCE - MONTICELLO
NEW APRIL 15 ARMY MOVES QUIETLY TO LAKE VILLAGE
FULL APRIL 29 SCOUTS EXPLORE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
HALF MAY 21 DESOTO DIES, BURIED AFTER DARK
FULL MAY 28 DESOTO'S BODY DUG UP, PLACED IN THE RIVER
FULL JUNE 27 ARMY LEAVES SHREVEPORT, ENTERS TEXAS
FULL JULY 26 PLAN TO ATTACK (MISSION) TEJAS, TEXAS
FULL AUG. 25 ARMY TAKES (MISSION) TEJAS VILLAGE
FULL SEP. 24 SCOUTS EXPLORE WESTWARD FROM AUSTIN
HARVEST OCT. 23 ARMY RETURNS TO (MISSION) TEJAS
NEW NOV. 7 ARMY STRIKES MONROE, LOUISIANA
FULL NOV. 22 ARMY STRIKES PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS
ARMY SPENDS THE WINTER BUILDING BOATS FOR ESCAPE.
LAST YEAR, 1543
FULL APRIL 20 ARKANSAS RIVER FLOODS IN EARLY SPRING
NEW JULY 2 LEAVE ARKANSAS RIVER TO SLIP PAST GREENVILLE
FULL JULY 16 REACH GULF OF MEXICO, INDIANS ATTACK
NEW JULY 31 SABINE LAKE, TEXAS, CAREEN VESSELS, HIGH TIDES
FULL AUG. 14 AT MATAGORDA FOR 8 DAYS SPANNING FULL
NEW AUG. 30 HIGH SPRING TIDES BELOW KINGSVILLE, TEXAS
FULL SEP. 10 ARMY SPOTS SANDS OF MEXICO'S SHORELINE