The identity of the first American landfall by Columbus remains controversial .
Many authors accept Samuel E. Morison 's identification of what was later called Watling ( or Watling 's ) Island as Columbus ' San Salvador .
The identity of the first American landfall by Columbus remains controversial , but many authors accept Samuel E. Morison 's identification of what was later called Watling ( or Watling 's ) Island as Columbus ' San Salvador .