The Survivors of the De Soto Expedition


 Valdivieso, Luis de. This survivor testified, in Mexico, that
he was originally from Salamanca and presently was a resident of
Panuco. He was the legitimate son of Joan Velazquez and Maria
Valdivieso, servants of the Catholic Kings and went to Florida
with de Soto. He married a daughter of Pedro Carranza, a
conqueror from New Spain.140

 Valtierra, Pedro de. Son of Pedro Martinez and Catalina de
Valtierra, citizens of Leon, SR-301. Valtierra is listed as a survivor
from Castilla la Vieja, Smith-297.

 Vargas, Juan de. Son of Hernando de Vargas and Ines
Alvarez de Balboa, citizens of Burguillos, SR-296. Vargas from
Burguillos is one of two survivors listed with this last name in
Smith-294.

 Vazquez, Alonso. A native of the city of Jerez who made his
probanza in nearby Badajoz on June 12, 1560. From the
interrogatory he presented, the following information has been
obtained.141 In 1538 Vazquez left Spain for the discovery and
conquest of Florida in the armada of Hemando de Soto. Also, that
the Adelantado debarked at Santiago de Cuba and there, and in
Havana, spent a year in preparation. Further, that Vazquez went to
Florida as a captain and, after debarking, was given command of
up to 80 men. After twelve days in the port he went with Captain
Baltasar Gallegos on the first entry made in the country while de
Soto and most of the army remained behind. Later, they went to
the province of Paracuxi which they found inhabited, and heard
that it was a country abundant in food. But, to the contrary, all
men, among them Alonso and his brother Rodrigo Vazquez,
suffered great hunger for a month and lived on nothing but the
green stalks of maize. Marching through that country they arrived
at a marsh that took three days, without food, to cross, finally
arriving at the province of Ocal. De Soto, intent on reconnoitering
the country, left Luis de Moscoso in command of the camp and,
with Vazquez, explored the area. In Mauvila the formerly peaceful
Indians killed 15 or 20 men and wounded 150. In breaking down
the palisade, where they were in strength, Vazquez was wounded


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