The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-21

with Whatever klnQ OF ClUtn we COulu
find, and as most of them had become
swollen from cold and exposure during
the night, they were very painful; but 1t.
pained us more to thnk of the great
number of our companions who had per-
ished, as for instance Juan Nelasquez
de Leon, Francisco dc Salcedo, Francisco
de Morla and Lares, that good horse
man. and many others OF the men OF
Cortes.
OF the men of Narvaez the great maj or
ity persisted at the broken bridges as
they were laden down with gold. The
astrologer. Botello, derived no benefit
from his astrology. for he too was killed.
The children OF Montezuma, who were
our prisoners, were killed, and also Caca-
matzin and other prisoners.
We now found that thirty-three horses
remained to us, and as for the guns and
powder we had none. OF the crossbows
we had saved a few for which we now
proceeded to make bolts. But the worst
danger of all was the manner in which
the Tlascalans might receive us, as the
Mexicans still hung around attacking us
at every opportunity. However we re-
commenced our march at midnight. The
wounded who could walk we placed in
the middle, the lame went on crutches, and
those who were badly wounded AMI could
not walk we placed on the wounded
horses who could not be used in fight
ing. and we divided the remainder ofthe
horse. putting some in front and some in
the rear and some at each side of our col
| umn. Those of us who were strongest
occupied the exposed positions where we
| could turn our faces to the Mexicans and
beat them off. The Tlascalans who were
| able to fight stood with us. and from the
| moment we recommended our march the
| fight never slackened for a moment, the
| Indians attacking US with arrows and
stones and charging us ana yelling and
| CRYING out continually:
Now you are going where you will all
| be slain"
have forgotten to say how glad we
were when we found that Dona Marina
| tenga had escaped by the assistance of
| the brothers of Dona Luisa who had
! been among the first to cross the bridge.
| Of all the other women who had been
| given us in Mexico and Tlascaa not one
| remained.
That day we arrived at town called
| Gualquitan, and though the inhabitants
attacked us sharply, we drove them Off
| From mere we marched to where there
were some small villages, the Mexicans
all the time continuing the attack, and
| in bad pass they killed two wounded
soldiers and one horse and wounded
many others. and we, too, killed some of
| them with our swords and the horsemen
| killed a Jew with their lances. That night
| we stopped at these villages. and We ate
the horse that had been killed. The
! next morning early we again commenced
| our march in the same order and with
even greater precautions than the day be-
| fore. When we had marched about a
| league and commenced to think we were
| out Of danger. three of our horsemen
came rushing back and said that the
whole plain ahead was full of warriors
awaiting us. When we heard this we
had good cause to fear. although not
enough to make us faint-hearted or cease
for moment from the determination of
| fighting to the death.
| We now halted and arranged our plan of
| battle. The horsemen were ordered to
! charge on half rein, aiming their lances
at the faces of the enemy in order to break
their squadrons.
| The foot soldiers were to stab in the
belly with their swords, and we all de-
termined to fight in such manner as to
revenge our dead and wounded comrades
and also in the hope that God would be
| pleased that we should escape with our
lives. And after commenting ourselves
to God and the Holy Virgin and calling
on Santiago, as they approached us we
charged them, the horsemen charging in
| bodies of five and the foot also charging
at che same time. Oh, what a terrible
| thing it was to see this desperate and
bloody battle! How we fought foot to
foot and with what fury the dogs charged
and how they killed and wounded our
men with their macanas and lances and
:wo-handed swords! And cur horsemen,
as the plain was full of warriors. how
they lanced them at their pleasure, charg-
ing and retiring on a half rein, and al
though they and their horses were both
wounded, they never ceased to battle
| like brave and hardy soldiers
And it seemed as though the horsemen
| inspired all of us with double strength,
| for although we were wounded already
| ra.ai,yoH fraah WnIpIc did
not fail to close with them, and cut and
| slashed with our swords. r.
Cortes and Cristobal de Oil and Pedro
! de Alvavado who had obtained another
horse from one of the men Of Narvaez.
and Gonzalo de Sandoval, charged squad
| breaking their ranks. Cortes commanded
us to kill those who appeareda from
| their devices to be leaders and who could
easily be distinguished by their rich
arms worked in feather work and gold.
Sandoval cheered us, crying out as he
day of our revenge Trust in God, who
will see us safely through this danger, for
surely God is preserving us for some
great end. "
And Cortes and Cristobal de Oil and
! Sandoval and Pedro de Alvarado and
! Gonzalo Dominguez, and many others
| whom | cannot name and all of us in
short were of great hearts to fight, and
this strength came from our Lord Jesus
Christ and Our Lady the Virgin and San
| Santiago certainly aided US, and it was so
| certified to by one of the Captains of
Guatamoc, who was in the battle.
| And it pleased God that Cortes and his
companions, whom / have already
named, fought their way to that part of the
field where the Captain General of the
Mexicans was, with his banner richly
worked in gold and feather work and sill
yer. And when Cortes saw it he said to
Pedro de Alvarado and Gonzalo de San
doval and Cristobal de Oil and the other
Captains who were with him: Come,
gentlemen. charge Them And com
mending themselves to God they charged
into the thick of the Indians squadrons.
and Cortes struck the Mexican Captain
General and the rest OF our Captains who
were with him broke the Indian ranks,
but the person who followed the Indian
Captain, who had recovered from the
shock of the horse of Cortes was one Juan
de Salamanca, a native of Ontiveros, who
overlook him and slew him and captured
the banner, which he gave to Cortes
saying that it belonged to him, as he was
the first who struck the Indian Captain
and caused him to lower his banner and
lose his spirit.
Soma years afterwards his majesty gave
it to Salamanca as coat of arms. 1t
pleased God our Lord that when the Mex
leans saw their general and great many
others dead they lost heart and COM
menced to retreat followed by our horse