Cortes, About to Retreat, Finds the Causeways Cut—The Spaniards Escape
with Heavy Loss—The Tlaxcalans Remain True—Guatemozin is Elected
Emperor of Mexico
On the next day both sides remained quiet. Cortes made preparations for
his departure and the Mexicans did not appear disposed to resume
hostilities. But their apparent peacefulness was far from being genuine.
They were more determined than ever to extirpate the Spaniards and they
were engaged upon a well considered change of plans to accomplish it.
Their design now was to prevent his retreat by cutting the causeways and
leaving them to perish from hunger. But Cortes, whose foresight never
failed him, built a floating bridge with incredible swiftness, which
could be thrown across the opening. As soon as it was ready, he ordered
that the retreat should be made in the night. He hoped that either the
darkness would enable him to make his escape or that the well known
night superstition of the Mexicans would prevent them from interfering
with him. But in this he was mistaken.
As soon as night came he divided his army into three columns. Sandoval
was appointed leader of the advance. He himself led the centre column,
and Velasquez de Leon, a near relative of the governor of Cuba, brought
up the rear. The army set out in the stillness of midnight. Noise of any
kind was carefully avoided and the falling rain seemed to favor them.
For a time not a trace of counter preparation was discovered and at last
they reached the causeway leading to Tacuba which had been selected for
two reasons by Cortes. In the first place, it was the shortest, and in
the second, he had hopes that the Mexicans might have neglected to cut
it, as it was in an entirely different direction from that which the
Spaniards had taken when they came. But this hope was soon dissipated,
for when they reached the spot, they found it cut. With the help of the
floating bridge, they attempted to make the crossing, but before it was
accomplished the terrible battle cry of the enemy was heard, announcing
death and destruction on every hand. The lake was suddenly alive with
canoes. The beginning of the battle was marked by a terrible storm of
arrows and stones. The place, the darkness, and the desperation of the
assailants made it one of the most deadly in history.
The Spaniards were caught upon a narrow pier between the first and
second openings. They now sought to raise their bridge and take it to
the second, but the weight of the heavy guns had forced it between the
stones so closely that they could not get it loose. All their exertions
were in vain and they were now so fiercely attacked in front, in the
rear, and on both sides that no hope was left, either of victory or
escape. The Mexicans fought with desperation, determined either to die
themselves or destroy the enemies of their fatherland. The Spaniards
strove with all their skill and might to clear the way, but, as often as
they secured a passage with the sword, fresh fighters took the place of
the slain. They rushed upon them in such dense masses that they could
not use their fire-arms. At last their strength was exhausted. They
could no longer withstand this constantly increasing multitude. The
advance gave away and there was universal confusion. Infantry and
cavalry, friends and foes, were huddled together so closely that they
fought blindly and without knowing, in the darkness, whether they struck
friend or foe.
In the midst of this dreadful slaughter Cortes got together about a
hundred men, with whom he made an effort to cut his way through, and
finally succeeded in making his way to the mainland. He could not endure
the thought of his own rescue, however, while the larger part of his
army was still in danger. Selecting those who had not been wounded, he
went back to share the fate of his friends. A part of them had succeeded
in forcing their way through to him, but his joy at seeing them was
turned to grief when he discovered that the Mexicans were carrying off
their living captives to be sacrificed to their deities. He tried to
save them but was unable to do more than protect the little remnant
which had escaped. All were so exhausted that they could not renew the
fight. The larger part of his army was either slain or met death by
drowning.
The morning light broke and revealed a ghastly spectacle. More than half
the Spaniards and over two thousand Tlaxcalans had perished. Velasquez
de Leon, besides others of the bravest leaders, were missing. The most
of the survivors were wounded. Artillery, ammunition, baggage, and the
treasure they had collected were lost. The night of this horrible
slaughter, which occurred July 1, 1520, is known to this day in New
Spain as the Night of Sorrow. The first rendezvous was Tacuba but they
could not remain there long for the whole country was in arms. The only
place offering a secure shelter was Tlaxcala. To reach the road leading
there they had to traverse the whole northern half of the Mexican lake,
upon the west side of which they found a marshy region, and for several
days had to march through an unknown country without the sustenance
necessary to relieve their exhausted condition. But there was no other
way left open to them. They must either abandon all hope of possible
rescue or continue their march. Five days they traversed this apparently
endless marsh. Early on the sixth they reached Otumba, and, as they
ascended the adjacent heights, they observed the entire great plain
covered with countless warriors at sight of whom the stoutest among
them, except Cortes, abandoned all hope. Nothing could daunt his
courage. His bearing impressed his soldiers with the certainty that they
must either conquer or die. With his accustomed composure he rallied his
men and led them against the enemy. As the heavy grass is cut by the
scythe of the mower, so the enemy was mowed down by the swords of his
soldiers. Nothing could withstand their onset and blood and corpses
marked their course. But at last they were exhausted. Their arms sank
powerless. The enemy hurled themselves upon them from all sides, and
their destruction must have followed had not their watchful leader
fortunately saved them. He noticed from a distance the Mexican chief
carrying their battle flag. He remembered to have heard that Mexicans
gave up all for lost if their flag was lost and his decision was
instantly made. Followed by some of his brave officers, who were
mounted, he dashed into the midst of the troop which guarded the banner,
and hurled the Mexican leader to the earth with a thrust of his lance.
One of his attendants sprang from his horse, killed him, and seized the
flag. At that same moment all the other flags were lowered, a panic
seized them, they threw down their arms and took to flight. Thus a lucky
thought saved the Spaniards and gave them a victory which was as
glorious as it was profitable, for, when the booty was collected, its
value nearly reimbursed them for the treasures they had left behind in
Mexico, as most of the Mexicans, confident of victory, had bedecked
themselves with their most costly ornaments.
On the following day they reached the territory of the friendly
Tlaxcalans. They dreaded lest they should find a change in their
relations, but their fears were groundless. That noble and magnanimous
people remained as faithful as if the Spanish power and fortunes had
suffered no calamities. Among these people the Spaniards rested,
recovering from their hardships and caring for their wounds. All devoted
themselves to recreation save Cortes, notwithstanding he had striven and
suffered more than any of them. He had no time to think of rest. He was
engaged upon plans for the future and soon was delighted to find that
good fortune had not yet abandoned him.
Velasquez, the governor of Cuba, had so little doubt that Narvaez would
succeed with the strong force entrusted to him that, without waiting for
news, he sent him two more vessels loaded with supplies and munitions.
As they were sailing past Vera Cruz the commanding officer there induced
them to enter the harbor. He easily took possession of the vessels and
just as easily persuaded the men to enter Cortes’ service. This was not
all that fate turned to his advantage. Not long after this, three other
vessels of unusual size, belonging to a fleet which the governor of
Jamaica had fitted out for discoveries, appeared on the same coast.
Their commander unfortunately took a course toward the northern
provinces of the Mexican Empire, whose people were both poor and
warlike. He was very inhospitably received and after a long series of
misfortunes at last succeeded in reaching the harbor of Vera Cruz. His
men were also induced to enter Cortes’ service. In this way Cortes
received such accessions of men and material that his past losses were
nearly made good. He felt strong enough now to resume his great plans
for the conquest of the Mexican Empire. With his faithful allies, the
Tlaxcalans and other Indian tribes which had united with him, he was now
at the head of an army of ten thousand men.
In the meantime the Emperor Cuitlahua had died suddenly of small-pox.
After his death the electors were summoned to choose his successor.
Their duty at this critical time was one of the most serious
responsibility. The chief priests implored the blessing of their highest
deity in the following appeal:
“O God! Thou knowest that the days of our Emperor are ended, for thou
hast placed him under thy feet. He tarries in the place of rest. He has
traversed the road we all must go. He has gone to the house where we
must all follow—the home of eternal darkness which no light enters. He
tarried but a few days in his Empire, for we had enjoyed his presence
but a few days when thou summoned him to follow his predecessor. He is
therefore grateful to thee for freeing him from such a hard burden and
sending him peace and rest. Who shall now care for the welfare of thy
people and the empire? Who shall be appointed the judge to administer
justice to thy people? Who shall sound drum and pipe to call the old
warriors and the mighty to battle? Our Lord and our Protector, willst
thou in thy wisdom select one worthy to sit upon the imperial throne, to
bear the heavy burden of sovereignty, to love and console thy poor
people, as a mother loves and consoles her children? O merciful God,
shed the light of thy countenance upon this, thy kingdom. Ordain that in
all and through all, the honor shall be thine.”
The choice fell upon Guatemozin. He was a nephew of both the late
Emperors and when he came to the throne was not over twenty-five years
of age. Young as he was, he had had much military experience and had
distinguished himself in many bloody campaigns. He hated the Spaniards
as Hannibal hated Rome, and, as soon as he heard of the organization of
his enemy’s army, he assembled an extraordinary force of fighting men
from all the provinces at the capital, with whom he determined to fight
to the last drop of blood. Cortes, who was aware of his preparations,
realized that he must encounter great difficulties and dangers, but he
faced them with his usual courage. Boldly and enthusiastically he began
the march upon Mexico at the head of his greatly increased army.