Artwork Description:

In 1540 Hernando de Soto led a Spanish expedition into Chickasaw territory in what is now, Northern Mississippi. They wintered in the abandoned village of Chicaza. At first the Chickasaws welcomed the army of 700 heavily armed soldiers with food and deer skins but when De Soto demanded 200 men and women to be burden bearers, the Minco (Chief) said he would need time to consider it. That night, the Chickasaws attacked and set fire to the village. De Soto's men and livestock were decimated and would most likely have been wiped out had the Chickasaws not broken off the battle. The Spanish army re-grouped in another village a few miles away, without much of their weapons or armor and left Chickasaw territory.