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| George Buster Singleton |
(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator
George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere
in Time.” The column below, which was titled “DeSoto’s defeat happened 440
years ago at Alabama River,” was originally published in the Oct. 18, 1984
edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)
Four hundred and forty years ago today, here on the mighty
Alabama River, the banks were alive with activity. Hernando DeSoto was about to
cross with his mighty army and begin the downward trend that would lead to his
defeat and eventual death.
The river was low, just as it is today. An autumn sun beamed
down on the soldiers and animals alike. The horses of the soldiers were
restless as preparations were being made to swim them from the west bank to the
east. The clank of heavy armor added to the excitement.
The cattle and hogs that moved with the army were being
guarded by the faithful “Catahoula” hounds that had journeyed all the way from
Spain for the purpose of handling and herding the army’s meat supply. The
hounds were nervous, too, for they would soon, upon the command of their
masters, push the animals into the waters of the mighty river. Little did
anyone know that this was the beginning of the end for this ruthless explorer
and his loyal followers.
The Indians that had been forced into slave labor by
DeSoto’s army paddled the large canoes back and forth, carrying supplies and
armor, while the warhorses of the cavalry swam alongside.
There was tension in the autumn air. DeSoto believed that he
was nearing the end of his journey. He felt that within a two-day march from
the river bank, he would find the fabulous wealth that had brought him and his
army many miles in search of the fabled “Seven Cities of Gold.”
The large Indian town of Maubila was within his grasp. He
and his followers would gather all the great wealth that they could carry and
then link up with his fleet of ships awaiting his return in the bay of what is
now Pensacola. Truly, the riches he would have in his possession before the sun
had set two days later would pay for the expedition and make him rich beyond
his wildest dreams.
The river crossing was his last obstacle. At the town of
Maubila he would gather Indians and force them to carry the great wealth that
he would acquire and the supplies of his army to the ocean and the waiting fleet.
All haste was being made. The army would move on ahead,
leaving the herds to follow behind. There was no time to be wasted. He had sent
runners to Maubila, notifying them that he, DeSoto the great explorer, was on
his way. A feast was in order. The great and feared warrior would enter Maubila
with a hero’s welcome.
But fate would hold the winning hand. Word had already
reached the great town of Maubila about the cruelty and greed of DeSoto and his
men. Preparations were already underway for the great battle that was soon to
come. Warriors from miles around had been notified and awaited DeSoto’s
arrival.
But the battle of Maubila is another story. As I stand here
today, in the area where the crossing took place on Oct. 15, 1544, I wonder how
much history would have been altered if DeSoto had given the command to head
south instead of turning in a northeasterly direction. Who knows? One can only
guess. I gaze into the deep waters and speculate that here on this bank,
history was staging one of its great performances.
The ripples in the river continue their journey toward the
sea. The autumn sun warms the goldenrods along the banks, and a crow calls from
the distance. The stage is the same, only the players have changed.
(Singleton, the
author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the
age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born on
Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County and served as the administrator of the
Monroeville National Guard unit from 1964 to 1987. He is buried in Pineville
Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns
are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County
Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week
for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work
and memory alive.)
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