“area of critical county concern"

To: Fred Jacobsen

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Fred Jacobsen

Gus…

 

The map display at the De Soto National Memorial in Bradenton shows de Sotolanding below Cockroach and

on the north bank of the Little Manatee river at the town of “Uzita”. The shell mounds all along both banks

of the Little Manatee belonged to the same tribe that we spell “Ucita”.

 

The Florida Park Service, FDOT, National Park Service and Florida Department of Environmental

Protection have agreed to locate two new De Soto Trail Kiosks in Southern Hillsborough, one in Cockroach

Bay Aquatic Preserve and the other near the ancient village of “Uzita” in EG Simmons park.

 

…Fred

 

 

 

 

“On Friday May 30, [1539] they disembarked on the land of Florida, two leagues from a town of an Indian

Chief called Ucita.  They disembarked the two hundred and thirteen horses which they carried, in order to

lighten the ships so that they would be need less water.  All the men landed and only seamen stayed aboard,

who in a week, by going up with the tide for a short distance daily, brought the vessels near to the town.  As

soon as the men landed the camp was established on the shore near the bay which went up to the

town.    ...the land being obstructed by woods and swamps,...   The night following, the governor with one

hundred men in the brigantines came upon a town which he found without people,...   On the following day,

Luis de Moscoso, maese de campo, set the men in order, those on horse in three squadrons-the vanguard, the

battle line, and the rear guard- and in that way and the next, going around great mud flats which come from

the bay.  They arrived at the town of Ucita , where the governor was, on Sunday, June first, the day of the

Trinity.  The town consisted of seven or eight houses. the chief's house stood near the beach on a very high

hill which had been artificially built as a fortress  At the other side of  the town was the temple and on top

of it a wooden bird with its eyes gilded....   The houses were of wood covered with palm leaves.  The

governor was lodged in the houses of the chief and with him Vasco Porollo and Luis de Moscoso; and in the

other houses which were located in the middle of the town, the chief constable, Balstar de Gallegos.  And

apart in the same houses were placed the provisions carried on the ships.  The other houses and the temple

were [dismantled], and a mess of every three or four built a small house in  which they were lodged.  The

land round about  was greatly encumbered and choked with a great and lofty forest.  The governor ordered

it to be cut down for the space of a crossbow shot about the town, in order that the horses might run and

the Christians have the advantage of the Indians if the latter should by chance try to attack them by night.

They posted foot soldiers as sentinels, in couples at each position along the roads and at proper places, who

stood watch for four hours [ por quartes ].  The horsemen visited them and were ready to aid them if there

should be an alarm.  The governor appointed four captains over the horsemen and two over the foot

soldiers.  Those over the horse were: one, André de Vasconcelos, and Second, Pedro Calderón, of Badajóz,

and the other two his kinsmen, the Cardeñosa (Arias Tinoco and Alfonso Romo), also natives of Badajóz.  One

of captains over the foot soldiers was Francisco Maldonado of Salamanca , and the other Juan Rodriguez

Lobillo.” he Gentleman of Elvas

 

de Soto Chronicles

. Vol. I pp.57-58.