Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-03-08

imhdel Among the rest, tho Young captain
Sandoval is particularly commemoraied for
his daring prowess. Managing hrs tery
steed with easy horsemmshp, he darted
when least expected, into the thickest oftae
melee, overturning the staunchest warriors,
aud rejoicing in danger, as If il were his
natural element
But these gallant displays Of heroism
served only to ingulf the Spaniards deeper
aud deeper in the mass of the enemy, with
scarcely any more chance Of cutting their
way through his dense and interminable.
battallions than of hewing passage with
their swords through the mountains. Many
ofthe TIascalans and some Of the Spaniards
had fallen, and not one but had been wound
ed. Cortes himself had received second
cut on the head, and his horse was so much
injured that he was compelled to dismount
and take one from the baggage train, a
strong boned animal, who carried him well
through the turmoil Of the day. The con-
test had now listed several hours The sun
rode high in the heavens and shed an in
tolerable fervor over the plain. The Chris
tinns, weakened by previous suffering, and
faint with loss Of blood, began TO relax in
their desperate exertions. Their enemies,
constantly supported by fresh relays from
the rear, were still in good heart, and, quick
TO perceive their advantage, pressed with re-
doubled force on the Spaniards. The horse
fell back, crowded on the foot; and the
latter in vain seeking a passage amidst the
dusky throngs Of the enemy, who now closed
up the rear, were thrown into some disorder.
The tide Of battle was setting rapidly agains;
the Christians The fate Of the day would
soon be decided; and all that now remained
for them seemed to be to sell theI lives as
dearly as possible.
At this critical moment, Cortes, whose
restless eye had been rowing round the field
in quest of any object that might offer him
the means Of arresting the coming ruin,
rising in his stirrups, deserted at distance,
in the midst Of the throng, the chief who
from his dress and military cortege he knew
must be the commander Of the barbarian
forces. He was covered with rich surcoat
Of feather-work and panache Of beauti-
ful plumes, gorgeousIy set in gold aud pre-
cious stones, noated above his head. Ris-
ing above this, and attached to his back,
between the shoulders, was short staff
bearing golden net for banner, the
singular, but customary, symbol Of authority
for an Aztec commander The cacique,
whose name was Cihuaca, was borne on a
litter, and body of young warriors whose
gay and ornamented dresses showed them
to be the flower of the Indian mobiles, stood
round as guard Of his person and the sa-
cred emblem
The eagle eye Of Cortes no sooner fell on
this parsonage, than it lighted up in triumph.
Turning quickly round 10 the cavaliers at
his side, among whom were Sandoval, Old,
Alvarado, and Avila, he pointed out the
chief, exclaiming "There is our mark -
Follow and support me !" Then crying his
war-cry, and striking his iron heel into his
weary steed, he plunged beadIong into thick
est of the press His enemies fell back,
taken by surprise and daunted by the ieroci-
:, ty ofthe attack. Those who did not were
pierced through with his lance, or borne
down by the weight of his charger. The
cavaliers followed close in the rear On
they swept, with the fury of thunderboit,
cIeaving the solid ranks asunder, strewing
their path with the dying and the dead, aud
bounding over every obstacle in their way.
In few minutes they were in the presence
) Of the Indian commander, and Cortes, over
turning his supporters, sprung forward with
the strength Of lion, and, striking him
through with his lance, hurled him 10 the
ground A young cavalier, Juan de Sala-
manca, who had kept close by his generals
side, quickly dismounted aud despatched the
fallen chief. Then tearing away his banner
he presented il to Cortes, as trophy 10
which he had the best claim II was the
work of moment. The guard, oyerpow-
cred by the suddenness Of the onset, made
but little resistance, but, flying, communi-
l Gated their own panic TO their comrades
The tidings of the loss soon spread over the
: field. The Indians, filled with consterna-
ton, now Thought only Of escape. In then
blind terror, their numbers augmented theii
: confusion. They trampled on one another
! fancying it was the enemy in their rear
The Spaniards and Tlascnlans were moi
: slow to avail themselves Of the marvellou.
I change in their affairs. Their fatigue, theil
; wounds, hunger, thirst, all were fogotten il
E the eagerness for vengeance and they fol
lowed up the flying foe, dealing death Al
e every stroke, and taking ample retrbutor
for all they had suffered in the bloody marsh
: es Of Mexico. Long did they pursue, till
/. the enemy having abandoned the field, they
! returned stated with slaughter to CLEAN the
booty which he had left. II was great, fol
the ground was covered with the bodies O
, the chiefs, az whom the Spaniards, in ODE
dience to the generals Instructions, had par
> ticuarly aimed and their dresses displayed
! all the barbaric ponp Of ornament, in which
the Indian warrior delighted, When hii
men had thus Unidentified themselves, il
some degree, for their late feverses, Cortes
; called them again under their banners ant