Hernando de Soto's Lunar Activity
Compiled by Donald E. Sheppard
from Moon Phase
Calculations and Lunar Circumstance Tables compiled by
Dennis L. Mammana in 1994, Resident Astronomer,
Natural Science Center, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
THIS WAS THE FIRST LUNAR INTELLIGENCE EVER USED
IN THE STUDY OF HERNANDO DE SOTO'S CONQUEST!
CONQUEST CALENDARS
Why Use Moon Phases?
Harvest Moon
Spring Tide
MOON PHASE DATE EVENT DURING CONQUEST
FIRST YEAR
NEW MOON MAY 18, 1539 DESOTO'S ARMY SAILS FROM HAVANA ON SPRING TIDES
FULL MOON JUNE 1, 1539 DESOTO'S ARMY LANDS IN FLORIDA ON SPRING TIDES
NEW MOON JULY 15, 1539 THE ARMY LEAVES PORT FOR INTERIOR
FULL MOON JULY 31, 1539 RIDERS SENT TO ADVANCE THE ARMY
NEW MOON AUG. 14, 1539 DESOTO CONDUCTS HERNANDO MASSACRE
FULL MOON AUG. 29, 1539 ARMY ADVANCES FROM OCALE TO SUWANNEE
FULL MOON SEP. 27, 1539 DESOTO TAKES TALLAHASSEE AT DAWN
NEW MOON OCT. 12, 1539 ANASCO GETS LOST FINDING PANAMA CITY
HARVEST M. OCT. 27, 1539 THE THIRTY LANCERS RECROSS THE GREAT SWAMP
NEW MOON NOV. 10, 1539 SHIPS LEAVE PORT CHARLOTTE ON SPRING TIDES
ARMY WINTERS AT BOTH PANAMA CITY AND MARIANNA CAMPS
SECOND YEAR
FULL MOON MAR. 22, 1540 ARMY TAKES TOA: DAWSON, GEORGIA
FULL MOON APL. 21, 1540 LOST IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SCOUTS DISPATCHED
FULL MOON MAY 20, 1540 DESOTO ENTERS NORTH CAROLINA AT DAWN
FULL MOON JUNE 19, 1540 DESOTO DEMANDS WOMEN FOR MEN AT CHIAHA
FULL MOON JULY 19, 1540 ARMY ARRIVES AT COOSA, GEORGIA, THIS WEEKEND
FULL MOON AUG. 17, 1540 SCOUTS LEAVE COOSA, ARMY ADVANCES IN 3 DAYS
NEW MOON AUG. 31, 1540 ARMY IN ALABAMA, AT ULIBAHALI ON COOSA RIVER
FULL MOON SEP. 16, 1540 ARMY TAKES TALLASSEE, ABOVE MONTGOMERY
HARVEST M. OCT. 15, 1540 DESOTO TAKES PIACHI, CHIEF TUSCALUSA'S HOME
FULL MOON NOV. 14, 1540 ARMY DEPARTS BATTLE GROUNDS AREA
NEW MOON NOV. 28, 1540 RAFTS MOVED TO BLACK WARRIOR RIVER CROSSING
FULL MOON DEC. 13, 1540 ARMY ADVANCES TO THE TENNESSEE RIVER
ARMY MAKES EAST AND WEST STRIKES DURING THIS WINTER
THIRD YEAR
NEW MOON APL. 26, 1541 WAR AT ALIBAMO, BELOW NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
FULL MOON MAY 10, 1541 DESOTO ENTERS KENTUCKY
NEW MOON JUNE 24, 1541 DESOTO TAKES VINCENNES, INDIANA
FULL MOON JULY 8, 1541 SCOUTS SIGHT LAKE MICHIGAN AT CHICAGO
FULL MOON AUG. 6, 1541 DESOTO STRIKES LARGEST "TOWN" IN ILLINOIS
FULL MOON SEP. 6, 1541 ARMY CROSSES MISSISSIPPI RIVER INTO MISSOURI
HARVEST M. OCT. 5, 1541 ARMY TAKES TULLA, WEST PLAINS, MISSOURI
NEW MOON OCT. 19, 1541 ARMY ENTERS ARKANSAS IN DARKNESS THE NEXT MORNING
FULL MOON NOV. 3, 1541 ARMY TAKES JACKSONPORT, SPENDS THE WINTER THERE
ARMY SPENDS THE WINTER EXPLORING MISSISSIPPI RIVER'S WEST SIDE FLATS
FOURTH YEAR
NEW MOON MAR. 16, 1542 ARMY CROSSES WHITE RIVER SOUTH BOUND IN SNOWS
FULL MOON MAR. 31, 1542 ARMY AT NILCO - STAR CITY
NEW MOON APL. 15, 1542 ARMY MOVES QUIETLY TO LAKE VILLAGE
FULL MOON APL. 29, 1542 SCOUTS EXPLORE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
HALF MOON MAY 21, 1542 DESOTO DIES, BURIED AFTER DARK AT LAKE VILLAGE
FULL MOON MAY 28, 1542 DESOTO'S BODY DUG UP AND PLACED IN THE RIVER
FULL MOON JUNE 27, 1542 ARMY INSIDE LOUISIANA WITH NEW LEADER
FULL MOON JULY 26, 1542 ARMY HALTED AT THE SABINE RIVER IN LOUISIANA
FULL MOON AUG. 25, 1542 ARMY EXPLORES MISSION TEJAS AREA OF TEXAS
FULL MOON SEP. 24, 1542 ARMY AT AND SCOUTS EXPLORE BEYOND AUSTIN
HARVEST M. OCT. 23, 1542 ARMY RETURNS TO NAGUATEX AT TEXAS BORDER
FULL MOON NOV. 22, 1542 ARMY BACK IN ARKANSAS, NILCO/PINE BLUFF
ARMY SPENDS THE WINTER BUILDING BOATS FOR ESCAPE
LAST YEAR
FULL MOON APL. 20, 1543 ARKANSAS RIVER FLOODS IN EARLY SPRING
NEW MOON JULY 2, 1543 LEAVE ARKANSAS RIVER TO SLIP PAST GREENVILLE
FULL MOON JULY 16, 1543 REACH GULF OF MEXICO, INDIANS ATTACK
NEW MOON JULY 31, 1543 SABINE LAKE, TEXAS, CAREEN VESSELS, HIGH TIDES
FULL MOON AUG. 14, 1543 AT MATAGORDA FOR 8 DAYS SPANNING FULL MOON
NEW MOON AUG. 30, 1543 HIGH SPRING AT PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS
FULL MOON SEP. 10, 1543 ARMY SPOTS SANDS OF MEXICO'S SHORELINE
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