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Letter
of Hernando Desoto Sent Back to Havena
Concerning the Rescue of Juan Ortiz
by William Van Fleet
The
translation of this was made by Dr. James A. Robertson,
managing editor of the Hispanic American Review
and author of a number of volumes of Florida history.
Espiritu Santos Bay, July 9, 1539
"On
my arrival here I learned of a Christian who was held
by a Cacique. I sent Baltaser de Gallegas with 40
horesemen and a number of foot soldiers to get him.
Gallegas found him a day's journey away from here
with 8 or 10 Indians whom he brought to my hands.
We rejoiced not a little on seeing him as he knows
the language (Indian). He lost our language, but he
soon regained it. His name is Juan Ortiz, a native
of Seville, and a nobleman." We are indebted
to Dr. Robertson for his splendid research work in
Florida history.
