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 enemy killed several more of our men. Before ourtroops reached this town they fell in
with a numerous body of the enemy,formed of the inhabitants of the towns they had passed
through, joined by those of Tlacupa and Mexico, which lay in the immediate
neighbourhood. They attacked our troops with such impetuosity, and with their ranks so
firmly closed, that it was with the utmost difficulty Cortes wasable to break their line with
the cavalry, and then even our foot hadmuch hard fighting with sword in hand before they
could compel theenemy to retreat. Cortes quartered his men for the night in Escapuzalco,
and next morning continued his march. If, however, he hadbeen attacked the previous day
by large bodies of the enemy, their numbers were greatly increased on this, and they
observed more methodin their manœuvres, and wounded several of our men. They were,
however, compelled to fall back into their fortifications, and the Spaniardsforced their way
into the town, where they plundered and setfire to a great number of houses.
When the news of the unfortunate termination of the battle reached Mexico, additional
troops were immediately ordered to Tlacupa to oppose Cortes, and received instructions
first to attack the Spaniards, and then to fall back upon Mexico, in order to entice the
Spaniards to pursue them along the causeway. This stratagem succeeded admirably, for
Cortes was deceived by their apparent flight, and pursued the enemy as far as a bridge,
thinking the victory was already his. When the Mexicansconsidered they had caught the
Spaniards sufficiently deep in thefoil, they turned suddenly round, and fell upon them with
such terrific numbers, by land, from their canoes, and from the house-tops, that Cortes
almost gave himself up for lost. In his hurried flight over thebridge he was attacked by so
vast a body, that all opposition was fruitless. One of our ensigns, determined not to
relinquish his hold of the colours, was dangerously wounded in the struggle, and at last
tumbledheadlong with them into the water, but was fortunate enough to escapedrowning,
and, by dint of great bravery, succeeded to rescue himself and his flag, just when the
Mexicans laid hold of him, and were aboutto drag him out of the water into a canoe.
In this unfortunate engagement we had five men killed and manywounded, and it was with
the greatest difficulty our men could fighttheir way through the dense body of the enemy,
and regain the mainland.
[Pg 22]
After this battle Cortes stayed five more days in Tlacupa, duringwhich time he had another
engagement with the Mexicans and their allies; after which he began his march back to
Tezcuco by the sameroad he had come. The Mexicans, who construed this movement intoa
flight, and imagined that Cortes had lost all courage, thought thiswas the moment to gain
great honour to themselves, by giving theSpaniards a signal defeat. For this purpose they
lay in wait for them ina spot where they could get easily at our horse; but met with so rough
areception from our troops, that a considerable number of them wereslain. Cortes lost one
man and two horses; but had so far cooled theenemy's lust for battle, that they no longer
harassed him on his march,and in a few days he reached the township of Aculman, about
eightmiles and a half from Tezcuco, to which it was subject. When we wereinformed of his
arrival there, Sandoval, with all of us, accompanied bynearly the whole of the caziques and
troops of Tezcuco, went out tomeet him. The joy at seeing each other again was very great,
for wehad been without any tidings of Cortes or his troops for fifteen days.
[Pg 23]
After the first welcomes had passed, and some arrangements made with respect to our
troops, we returned that same day to Tezcuco, aswe durst not leave that town unprotected at
night. Cortes encampedfor the night at Aculman, and did not arrive at Tezcuco until the day
following.
As the Tlascallans had made a considerable booty in this expedition,they requested leave of
our general to return to their country, whichhe readily granted; and they took their route
through a part of thecountry where the Mexicans had omitted to station any troops; so that
they arrived safely in Tlascalla with all their spoils.
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