The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
The whole of our troops were now divided into companies, to eachone was assigned some
particular station, which, indeed, was verynecessary, as Quauhtemoctzin sent out from time
to time numbers oflarge pirogues and canoes, to see whether we were off our guard or not.
About this time several tribes which were subject to Tezcuco cameto sue for peace with us
and beg forgiveness, if we thought they hadbeen any way implicated in the late murders of
our countrymen.Cortes received them most kindly, and took them into his friendship.The
building of our brigantines was now rapidly continued, and there were every day from
seven to eight thousand Indians employed tolengthen and deepen one of the canals. As we
had an equal numberof Tlascallans in our service, who greatly desired to heap up honour
for themselves in assisting us against the Mexicans, Cortes easily persuaded them to
accompany him in an expedition against Iztapalapan,through which town we had passed on
our first march to Mexico.Cuitlahuatzin, the king of this township, had been raised to the
throne of Mexico, after the death of Motecusuma, and the inhabitants had done us
considerable damage, and were continually committing theirdepredations on the townships
of Chalco, Tlalmanalco, Amaquemecan,and Chimalhuacan, because these had entered into
alliance with us.We had now been twelve days in Tezcuco without having achieved any
thing worthy of mention, and therefore determined to open the campaign against
Iztapalapan.
CHAPTER CXXXVIII.
How we marched against Iztapalapan; Cortes taking along with himAlvarado
and Oli; while Sandoval was left behind to protect Tezcuco.
The expedition against Iztapalapan was principally undertaken toplease the Tlascallans, so
great was their desire to try their strengthagain with the Mexicans on the field of battle.
Their patience was almost exhausted, and they longed to revenge the death of their
countrymen who were slain in our disastrous flight from Mexico. To this was likewise
added, that the Tezcucans could scarcely supply thenecessary provisions for so great a body
of men, and it was not ourinterest to be too burdensome to them.
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Cortes commanded this expedition in person, accompanied byAlvarado, Oli, thirteen horse,
twenty crossbow-men, six musketeers, and two hundred Spanish foot. These troops were
joined by the whole of our Tlascallan friends, and twenty of the Tezcucan chiefs, all
relationsof the Prince Don Hernando, and enemies to Quauhtemoctzin.
After the necessary arrangements had been made, we commenced our march towards
Iztapalapan, which lies above sixteen miles fromTezcuco, and, as I have before stated, half
the town stands in the lakeitself. We marched forward with every military precaution, as the
Mexicans had posted their scouts in all quarters to watch our movements,so that they might
be able to throw a body of troops into anyplace we might threaten to attack.
On this occasion again they had received due information of our design, and they had
strengthened the garrison of Iztapalapan with above 8000 warriors; so that we found a
considerable army ready toreceive us in front of that town. The enemy bravely stood their
groundfor a considerable length of time, but at last gave way, so vigorouslydid we set upon
them with our horse, crossbows, and muskets; whileour friends of Tlascalla rushed upon
them like so many furious dogs.The Mexicans now retreated into the town itself, where we
pursuedthem; but this it appears was by a preconcerted plan, and had almostproved fatal to
us. The enemy retreated before us, threw themselves into their canoes, and concealed
themselves, partly in the houses whichstood in the water, and partly among the reeds which
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