_How Francisco de Garay arrives with an extensive armament in the
river Panuco; how far he was successful; and of many other
circumstances._
I have above mentioned that Francisco de Garay was governor of Jamaica,
and that he already possessed great wealth, when he heard of the rich
countries we had discovered in our expeditions under Cordoba and
Grijalva, and of the 20,000 pesos with which we returned to Cuba on our
second voyage.
When he therefore received information of a new armament that was
destined for New Spain, under command of Hernando Cortes, he himself was
seized with a great desire likewise to discover some new countries, and
certainly he had more wealth at his command than we had, to fit out an
armament for such a purpose. He had learnt a good deal about the new
countries from our old chief pilot Alaminos; of their riches, and how
thickly populated the provinces were on the river Panuco; and as several
other sailors who had accompanied us on those expeditions, confirmed
what Alaminos had told him, he thought it worth his while to request his
majesty to grant him the permission to make further discoveries on the
river Panuco, and to appoint him governor of all the lands he should
discover. For this purpose he despatched his major-domo, Juan de
Torralva, to Spain, with letters and presents for those gentlemen who at
that time governed the affairs of India, begging of them to procure him
the appointment above-mentioned.
His Majesty was at that time in Flanders, and the president of the
council of the Indies, Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos
and titular archbishop of Rosano, with the two licentiates Zapata and
Vargas, and the secretary Lopez de Conchillos, governed the affairs of
India just as they thought proper. Garay therefore easily obtained the
appointment of adelantado and governor of the provinces bordering on the
river St. Peter and St. Paul, and of all the countries he should
discover.
By virtue of this appointment he fitted out three vessels, having on
board 240 men; including a strong body of cavalry, crossbow-men, and
musketeers. The chief command of this armament he gave to Alonso Alvarez
Pinedo, who, as I have above mentioned, was soon cut off, with the
greater part of his men, by the Indians, so that there was only one
vessel with sixty men that escaped to Vera Cruz, who, with their
captain, Comargo, entered our army.
Garay, being ignorant of the miserable termination of this expedition,
sent out two more vessels, under command of Diaz de Auz and Ramirez,
with many soldiers, horses, a quantity of provisions, and a considerable
store of arms of various kinds; but when these vessels arrived in the
river Panuco, and nowhere met with any traces of the other armament,
excepting a few pieces of burnt wood of the first vessels, lying on the
shore, they likewise put into Vera Cruz. Though I have mentioned all
this above, it was nevertheless necessary to recapitulate these
circumstances here, to render the whole more intelligible to the reader.
After Garay had thus spent so much money to no purpose, and heard of the
great good fortune which attended Cortes; of the large towns he had
discovered, and of the vast treasures in gold and jewels which he had
accumulated in New Spain, envy, as well as thirst for riches, also rose
up in his breast to torment him; and he was resolved to fit out as
extensive an armament as he possibly could, and to take the command of
it himself. He accordingly equipped a small fleet, consisting of eleven
vessels and two brigantines, on board of which there were 130 horse and
840 foot, most of the latter being armed with muskets and crossbows. As
he was a man of great wealth, he spared no expense in fitting out this
splendid armament. With this fleet Garay left Jamaica in the month of
June, of the year 1523, sailed in the direction of Cuba, and thence ran
into the harbour of Xagua, where he learnt that Cortes had already
subdued the whole province of Panuco; that he had founded a colony
there, and that the expedition had cost him above 60,000 pesos; that he
had petitioned his majesty to unite the government of this province with
that of New Spain, and to appoint him the viceroy. This of itself was
disheartening to Garay; but when he further heard of the heroic deeds of
Cortes and his companions, and how we with a mere handful of men had
gained the victory over Narvaez, although he had an army of 1300 men,
besides eighteen heavy guns, he began to fear the good fortune of our
general. His apprehensions were further augmented by what he heard from
several distinguished personages of Cuba, who had come to pay their
respects to him at Xagua; among these was also the licentiate Zuazo,
whom the royal court of audience at St. Domingo had expressly sent to
Cuba, to reside near Diego Velasquez. From the different interviews
which Garay had with Zuazo, he soon foresaw that, if he proceeded to
Panuco, he would have to dispute its possession with Cortes; he
therefore proposed to Zuazo that he should accompany him thither, and
act as a mediator between himself and Cortes. To this Zuazo replied,
that he was not at liberty to leave his present abode without permission
from his superiors, but that he would follow him as soon as possible.
Garay then weighed anchor and sailed in the direction of Panuco. He
encountered very boisterous weather at sea, so that he was driven too
far north off the mouth of the river Palmas, which he entered with his
fleet on the day of Santiago de Compostella. Here he sent several of his
officers, with a small detachment of his troops, on shore, who returned
with so bad an account of the country that Garay determined to leave
this place and go in search of the river Panuco, and to repair to the
town Cortes had founded, where, at the same time, he would be nearer to
Mexico. Upon this, Garay again required the whole of the officers and
soldiers to take the oath of fidelity, and to promise implicit obedience
to him as captain-general. He likewise appointed the alcaldes, the
regidors, with all the chief authorities of a town he intended to found,
and to which he said he would give the name of Garayana. He now
disembarked the whole of his men and horses, and gave the command of the
fleet to an officer named Grijalva, whom he ordered to sail as close as
possible to the shore, while he marched with his troops along the coast.
The first two days he passed over a desolate and boggy country; he then
crossed a river, which took its source in the mountains, lying about
twenty miles inland, and arrived in a township which was quite deserted
by its inhabitants, but where he found abundance of maise and fowls,
besides the delicious fruit of the guayaba tree. The soldiers likewise
brought in a few of the inhabitants prisoners, who understood the
Mexican language; and Garay, after making them handsome presents, sent
them to the neighbouring townships to incline the inhabitants peaceably
towards him. He then marched round a large morass, and visited several
townships, everywhere meeting with the kindest reception from the
inhabitants, who brought him quantities of fowls, and a species of geese
which they catch among the swamps. Many of his men had by this time
become wearied of marching up and down the country; and having got it
into their heads that the officers withheld from them some kinds of the
provisions which the inhabitants brought in, a part of the troops
rebelled, and plundered these townships for three days successively. On
the fourth day, the whole of the troops again marched forward, with some
Indian guides, and arrived at a very broad river, which they had no
other means of crossing but by canoes which were furnished them by the
friendly townships just mentioned. The horses were obliged to swim
across, each rider in a canoe leading his horse by the bridle; but as
there were a considerable number of horses, it was a very tedious
business, and five were unfortunately drowned. At length the whole of
the troops had passed across, but they had to encounter another
formidable morass, through which they found their way after undergoing
many fatigues, and so reached the province of Panuco. Here Garay
expected to have found provisions in abundance; but the whole of the
townships had scarcely any food left for themselves, while the
inhabitants were still in a very excited state, owing to the recent
incursion which Cortes had made into this neighbourhood; and wherever
there were any provisions left, the Indians took care to hide them as
soon as they received information of the approach of so large a body of
troops and horses; indeed they even totally deserted their towns, so
that in the very place where Garay had thought to rest and refresh his
troops, he only encountered greater difficulties and fatigues. In the
deserted houses his men found nothing but mice, moschitoes, and lice,
which made an unmerciful attack upon the new comers. To all this misery
was added, that the fleet, which should have sailed close into the
shore, and on board of which there was abundance of food, had not
arrived in the harbour, nor had any tidings of it been received. The
information with respect to the non-arrival of the vessels was given
them by a Spaniard, who, on account of some misdemeanour or other, had
been obliged to quit the town of Santisteban del Puerto. This man
likewise informed Garay's men that there was a town not far off, and
also that the Mexican territory was not very distant, which, he added,
was amazingly fertile, and inhabited by wealthy personages. This account
greatly excited the men, so that they began to stroll about the country
in small bodies, plundered every place they came to, and took the road
leading to Mexico.
Garay, who was well acquainted with the turbulent spirit of his troops,
and fearing he should not be able to keep them much longer together,
despatched Diego de Ocampo, one of his chief officers, with a letter to
Pedro Vallejo, who was at that time Cortes' commandant of Santisteban,
to learn which way he was inclined. In this letter Garay informed
Vallejo that he had been appointed by his majesty governor of these
provinces; that he had disembarked his troops in the river Palmas; and
that at last, after undergoing excessive fatigues, he had reached the
land of his destination.
Vallejo gave Ocampo and those who accompanied him a very honorable
reception, answered in the most polite terms, and assured him Cortes
would be delighted to have for neighbour so distinguished a governor;
but he told him that he had expended a large sum of money in subjecting
this province, of which he also had been appointed governor by his
majesty. Garay, however, was at liberty, continued Vallejo, to march his
troops into the town of Santisteban whenever he thought proper, and he
would render him every service in his power; only he must beg of him not
to allow his men to ill-use the Indian population, of which two
townships had already complained to him.
Vallejo then sent an express to Cortes, inclosing Garay's letter to him,
and gave him at the same time a circumstantial account of the posture of
affairs, adding, that he must either send him a strong reinforcement of
troops, or repair in person to Santisteban.
Cortes, on the receipt of Vallejo's letter, sent for father Olmedo,
Alvarado, Sandoval, and Gonzalo de Ocampo, brother to him whom Garay had
despatched to Vallejo. These gentlemen he instantly sent off to Garay
with certain papers containing his appointment of governor of all the
countries he might subdue, granted to him by his majesty, until the
lawsuit should have terminated which was pending between him (Cortes)
and the governor of Cuba. The answer which Vallejo had given to Diego de
Ocampo was perfectly satisfactory to Garay, and he marched his troops
close up to the town of Santisteban; but Vallejo being informed that a
small detachment of the latter was strolling heedlessly about the large
and beautiful township of Nechaplan, he sent out a body of his own men
to attack them, who captured above forty of their numbers, and brought
them in prisoners to Santisteban, which, it appears, was the very thing
these men had desired. Garay was greatly incensed at this, demanded
Vallejo to deliver up the men to him again, and threatened, unless he
complied, to punish him by virtue of the royal authority with which he
was vested. Vallejo, however, answered, that his reason for seizing
these men was, because they were marching about the country without any
legal authority, and had plundered the inhabitants: and that he
(Vallejo) should act up to Cortes' instructions until he received some
especial command from his majesty to the contrary; adding, that he must
again request him not to allow his men to plunder and ill-treat his
majesty's subjects.
While this dispute was going on, father Olmedo, with Alvarado and the
other officers, arrived in Santisteban; and as Gonzalo de Ocampo was at
that time alcalde major of Mexico, it was his duty to give Garay notice
to quit that territory, of which the government had been conferred upon
Cortes by his majesty. Several days were spent in these negotiations,
which were carried on by word of mouth, between the two parties, by
father Olmedo, and Garay began to discover that numbers of his men
deserted to Vallejo, that Cortes' officers were accompanied by a
considerable body of horse and musketeers, and that they daily increased
in numbers. Two of his vessels had been lost in a heavy storm, and the
rest lay at anchor in the mouth of the harbour, and were summoned by
Vallejo to run in, otherwise he should be obliged to treat them as
corsairs; to which the captains replied, that it was no business of his
where they anchored their vessels, and he might keep his commands to
himself.
Garay, who greatly feared the good fortune which always attended Cortes'
arms, durst not take any decisive step; while, on the other hand, Ocampo
of Mexico, Alvarado, and Sandoval were carrying on their secret
negotiations with his troops, but particularly with the captains of the
vessels, with some of whom they came to a secret understanding that they
should run into the harbour and declare for Cortes. The first two
captains who ran in with their vessels were Martin Lepuzcuano and
Castromucho, and they surrendered to Vallejo, who then immediately
repaired to the mouth of the harbour with the two vessels, and commanded
Juan de Grijalva either to run into the harbour or to quit his present
station without delay and put to sea again. This message Grijalva
answered by firing a broadside at him; but Vallejo was not to be daunted
by this, and repaired on board Grijalva's vessel in one of his own
boats, accompanied by a royal secretary, and handed over to him letters
from Alvarado and father Olmedo, who made large promises to him in the
name of Cortes. While Grijalva was perusing these letters, the rest of
the vessels ran one after the other into the harbour, so that no other
resource was left him than to follow their example, and to yield up his
sword to Vallejo, who had demanded it of him in the name of Cortes,
though he, with all the other captains, were immediately set at liberty
again, according to the advice of father Olmedo, who always said it was
most pleasing to God and to our emperor when disputes were settled
without spilling any blood.
When Garay found what a miserable state his affairs were in, that a
portion of his men had deserted, and that the rest had rebelled against
him; how two of his vessels had foundered at sea, and the rest had
declared for Cortes, his despondency was at its height. He earnestly
requested Cortes' officers to deliver up to him again his troops and his
vessels, and declared that he would return to the river Palmas, and thus
put an end to all further disputes. These officers, in reply, wished him
every success in this undertaking, and said they would order all his men
who were strolling about the country to repair to his standard again,
and reembark with their general; they promised also to furnish him with
a good supply of provisions and other matters. Garay was highly
delighted with this offer, and the strictest orders were accordingly
issued to seize all the men who had rebelled, and to take them into the
presence of Garay: but all threats proved fruitless, and the few of
Garay's soldiers who were recaptured maintained that their agreement was
to serve in the province of Panuco, and that their oath did not bind
them to follow their general's standard anywhere else. They even used
stronger language than this; and declared, without any reserve, that
Garay did not possess the requisite talents for a commander, and that he
was altogether no soldier.
When Garay found that, notwithstanding all his remonstrances and
threats, he could not alter the minds of his men, he completely
despaired. Our officers then advised him to write to Cortes, and they
promised to use all their influence with the latter, and induce him to
assist Garay in his expedition to the river Palmas; indeed, father
Olmedo and Alvarado pledged their words to obtain this for him. Garay
accordingly wrote a letter to our general, in which he gave him an
account of his voyage, and of the fatigues he had undergone, then begged
his permission to visit him in Mexico, in order that they might come to
some understanding with each other, and consider what steps they could
take to promote his majesty's best interests in this matter. Father
Olmedo and our officers also wrote to Cortes, and strongly recommended
Garay's cause to him, adding, that he was a gentleman with whom he had
formerly lived on the most intimate terms of friendship.
When Cortes read Garay's letter, he could not help feeling excessively
grieved at his misfortunes, and sent him a most polite answer in return,
expressing his deep concern at the unfortunate position of his affairs,
and invited him to repair in person to Mexico, where he would feel happy
to aid him with his counsel, and otherwise to lend him every assistance
in his power to prosecute his further designs. Cortes then despatched
orders for the inhabitants of the towns through which Garay would have
to pass, to give him an hospitable reception, and even sent various
kinds of refreshments for him to the different stages along his route.
In Tezcuco a banquet was prepared in his honour, and when he had
approached to within a short distance of Mexico, Cortes went out to meet
him, accompanied by several officers.
Garay was not a little astonished when he beheld the many large towns,
and at length the city of Mexico itself. Cortes gave him his own new
palace to live in, and immediately began to converse with him about the
posture of his affairs, and to deliberate what further steps it would be
most advisable for him to adopt. Alvarado, Sandoval and father Olmedo
used their utmost influence with Cortes to further Garay's views; and
the latter had scarcely been four days in Mexico when father Olmedo, in
order to substantiate the good understanding which had arisen between
him and Cortes, brought about the preliminaries of a marriage between a
natural daughter of the latter, who was still very young, and the son of
Garay.
It was at length settled that Garay should continue commander-in-chief
of his fleet, and that he should colonize the country on the river
Palmas, for which purpose Cortes was to furnish him with everything that
was necessary, and even with officers and men. It was also agreed that
Cortes should give a very large sum of money as a marriage portion to
his daughter.
By these bright prospects and the friendly disposition which Cortes
evinced towards him, Garay's spirits were again raised, and I am sure
that everything would have been fulfilled as agreed upon between them,
if Providence had not disposed otherwise.
Garay soon after inhabited the house of Alonso Villanueva, as Cortes was
making great alterations in his palaces. This Villanueva had upon one
occasion been despatched by Cortes to purchase horses in Jamaica, but
really I am unable to say whether previous or subsequent to this time;
at all events, Garay and he were very intimate friends, wherefore he had
requested permission of Cortes to inhabit the latter's house.
Narvaez was still in Mexico at this time, and renewed his former
friendship with Garay. As may naturally be supposed, each related to the
other his misfortunes, and as Narvaez was a man of a haughty
disposition, he said smilingly to Garay on one occasion: "What very fine
things, Senor Adelantado, have been told me by several of the men who
have deserted your troops! They assert, that on every occasion when you
wished to encourage your officers you used to say: 'We must show
ourselves brave men and fight valiantly about with Cortes' soldiers, and
not allow ourselves to be cozened as Narvaez was.' But what say you now,
Senor? I lost one of my eyes in the battle I fought with Cortes; lost my
army and all my property in the courageous defence which I offered, and
indeed it was no joke to defeat me. No one in the world can have greater
luck than this man; but it must be remembered that he has officers and
soldiers who lend him the most vigorous assistance in all his
undertakings, which alone has rendered it possible for him to have the
good fortune of an Octavius, the victorious career of a Julius Caesar,
and the endurance of a Hannibal in battle."
To which Garay replied, "That it was unnecessary for him to mention all
this, for the deeds spoke for themselves;" and indeed, added he, "where
will you find another man who would dare, after destroying his fleet, to
penetrate with a handful of men in the midst of a country so thickly
populated, in order to wage war against powerful states and large
cities?"
Narvaez then mentioned other heroic deeds of our general, and in this
way they discoursed for a length of time with each other about the
wonderful conquest of New Spain! Garay, soon after, even begged Cortes
to grant Narvaez and his wife permission to return to the island of
Cuba. This lady, whose name was Maria Valenzuela, possessed great
wealth, and she had formerly known Cortes at Cuba, and was even related
to him. She had herself also petitioned Cortes to liberate her husband.
Our general now not only granted this request, but also gave Narvaez
2000 pesos to defray the expenses of his voyage. Narvaez could scarcely
find words to thank Cortes sufficiently for so much kindness, and
promised him, by everything that was holy, never under any circumstance
whatever to go against his interests.
But to return to Garay, whose unfortunate expedition terminated in the
following manner. On Christmas eve of the year 1523 he accompanied
Cortes to church in order to attend midnight mass, performed by father
Olmedo; after church they both returned home in high spirits and sat
down to breakfast, when it appears that Garay, who was not in very good
health, caught cold by standing in a draught, which ended in pleurisy,
accompanied by a violent fever. The medical men bled and purged him, but
the disease continually grew worse, so that father Olmedo was desired to
inform him of the danger he was in, that he might confess, while he was
yet able, and make his last will. Father Olmedo accordingly disclosed to
him that his end was drawing nigh, and he ought to think of preparing
for death as a good Christian and an honest cavalier, that he might not
lose his soul in the next world, as he had his riches in this. "Your
advice is good, father," answered Garay; "I wish to confess this very
night, to receive the holy sacrament, and to make my last will." All
this he fulfilled with great devotion, appointed Cortes with father
Olmedo his executors, and four days after rendered up his soul again to
his God and his Creator.
It is peculiar to the climate of Mexico that those who are attacked by
pleurisy, generally die within three or four days; this we experienced
to our great sorrow in Tezcuco and Cojohuacan, where we lost numbers of
our men from this disease. For the rest, every honour was paid to the
last remains of Garay; and Cortes, with several officers, put on
mourning. May his soul rest in peace. Amen! It is, however, to be
regretted that he died far away from his wife and family in the house of
a stranger. After his departure from Mexico pretty work was going on
with his troops in Panuco; for as the officers and soldiers had no
commander-in-chief, any one who got it into his head raised himself to
captain or general, and in this way there stood successively at the head
of the troops, Juan Grijalva, Gonzalo de Figueroa, Alonso de Mendoza,
Lorenzo de Ulloa, Juan Medina, Juan de Villa, Antonio de la Cada, and a
certain Taborda, who was the most rebellious of all. Garay's son, to
whom Cortes' daughter was betrothed, nominally indeed, had the chief
command, but the men troubled themselves very little about him; and they
dispersed themselves in small bodies of fifteen and twenty-five about
the country, plundered the townships, forcibly carried away the women,
and in every respect conducted themselves as if they were plundering
among the Moors. At last the inhabitants were resolved to suffer this no
longer, and they united in a body with the determination to destroy
these cruel invaders, and in the space of a few days they killed upwards
of 500 Spaniards, all of Garay's troops, the most of whom were
sacrificed to their gods and their flesh was devoured. In one township
alone, above one hundred were slaughtered in this way. Cortes' troops in
Santisteban were no longer able to quell these disturbances, nor did the
Indians any way fear them; for when the garrison had upon one occasion
marched out against them, they defended themselves so valiantly that our
troops were obliged to retreat back to the town, to which the Indians
had even the temerity to lay siege, and made repeated attacks upon it
both day and night, and they would certainly have taken it if there had
not been seven or eight of the veteran conquistadores among the
garrison, who, with Vallejo, continually spurred on the rest of the men,
and took every military precaution to prevent so terrible a disaster.
These determined men also lent every assistance they could to the rest
of Garay's troops, but at the same time showed the necessity of their
continuing to encamp outside the town, so as to prevent the enemy from
making a combined attack upon the latter. Three separate engagements
were fought between the Indians and the troops of Vallejo, joined to
those of Garay, and though the former was killed himself and many
Spaniards wounded, yet the Indians were each time defeated with
considerable loss. The inhabitants had altogether become so furious and
exasperated, that on one occasion during night-time they burnt alive in
one of their towns forty Spaniards and fifteen horses.
When Cortes received intelligence of this terrible state of things he
felt excessively annoyed, and was upon the point of marching himself to
Panuco at the head of his troops to quell these disturbances, but he was
still suffering from the consequences of a broken arm, so that he was
compelled to leave this to Sandoval, whom he instantly despatched
thither with one hundred foot, fifty horse, fifteen crossbow-men and
musketeers, two cannon, and a body of 10,000 Tlascallan and Mexican
auxiliaries. Sandoval's instructions were to punish the inhabitants in
such a manner as to discourage them from ever after breaking out into
rebellion. As Sandoval was a man who could not rest night or day
whenever he had any important business on hand, he never stayed a moment
longer in any place than was absolutely necessary. Having received
intelligence that the enemy had stationed the whole of their troops in
two narrow passes, he divided his men into two bodies, of which one was
to attack the first and the other the second pass. The crossbow-men and
musketeers were instructed to keep up a constant fire upon the enemy,
who, however, bid a stout resistance in their turn, and wounded several
of the Spanish and auxiliary troops. When Sandoval found that all his
attempts to force the first pass were fruitless, and having no better
fortune on the following day, he sent orders for the other body, which
had been equally unsuccessful at the second pass, to turn back upon the
road leading to Mexico, he himself drawing off his men in the same
direction. The enemy, who imagined he retreated from fear, likewise
quitted their position, and followed Sandoval with terrific yells. The
latter now encamped in a secure spot, where he remained quiet for three
days; and one midnight, when he thought the enemy less upon their guard,
he suddenly broke up his camp, and, with the cavalry in advance, forced
his way through the narrow passes, with the whole of his troops; but
even then it was with great difficulty he succeeded, and three of his
horses were killed, besides numbers of the troops wounded: however, as
soon as he had the advantage ground, he fell with great impetuosity upon
the enemy, who had received considerable reinforcements during the
night. So vastly had their numbers increased, that he began to entertain
serious doubts as to the issue of the battle; he therefore firmly closed
his ranks, and so continued to combat with the enemy, who rushed upon
the points of the swords with the savage ferocity of so many tigers, and
they even succeeded to wrest the lances from six of the less experienced
cavalry soldiers. Sandoval was terribly enraged at this latter
circumstance, and swore he would rather go to battle with a few men who
knew how to fight, than with a great number who did not: and he then
instructed the cavalry how to aim at the enemy's face; and if the
Indians grasped the lances, to hold them firmly with the hand placed
under the arm, give spurs to the horses, and, by a sudden jerk, wrest
the lance from the enemy's grasp, or drag him along with it.
After this battle, in which neither party had gained any advantage over
the other, Sandoval encamped for the night near a small river. Here he
carefully posted his watches, and, having been taught experience in our
battles with the Mexicans, he ordered his auxiliary troops to encamp at
a good distance from the Spanish, to avoid all confusion if the enemy
commenced the attack in the dark. Sandoval had indeed every reason to
suppose that the Indians would fall upon him in the night, for they had
taken up a position so very near to his camp that their war-whoop and
military music were quite audible; but they made so sure of victory,
they said, (as Sandoval learnt from his auxiliaries,) that they would
rather wait till morning, and then put him, with all his men, to the
sword.
As soon as daylight broke forth, Sandoval marched out, with the whole of
his troops in close order, towards some houses whence the enemy's
war-music resounded. He had scarcely proceeded a mile when he came up
with three large bodies of the enemy, who immediately began to hem him
in on all sides. Sandoval, observing this, placed half of his cavalry in
each wing, and attacked the enemy with such determination that he
completely routed them, and slew great numbers. Two Spaniards, who had
but recently come to New Spain, were killed in this battle, besides
three horses. The Mexicans and Tlascallans then spread themselves
through the different townships, killed several more of the enemy, set
fire to every place, and brought in great numbers of prisoners.
The road to Santisteban was now open, and when Sandoval arrived there he
found the garrison in a most deplorable condition: greater part of the
troops were either sick or wounded, but what was worse, they had neither
food for themselves nor their horses.
The reader may easily imagine how welcome Sandoval's arrival was, and he
soon learnt how Garay's troops had behaved, and how the garrison would
probably have been cut to pieces if it had not been for the assistance
of seven or eight veteran Conquistadores, who each day marched to the
field of battle, kept Garay's troops outside the city, and so occupied
the enemy's attention in another quarter that they did not even allow
them time to think of storming the town. Sandoval then embraced these
brave men, and gave to each of the Conquistadores, who were all his old
companions in arms, a separate command, and desired them to divide all
the foot and cavalry into two bodies, and so sally out of the town,
forage the country round, damage the enemy's property as much as
possible, and bring in as many prisoners as they could take,
particularly of the chiefs. He himself, to his great sorrow, was obliged
to remain behind, as he was severely wounded in the leg, and had been
struck in the face by a stone.
The two detachments obeyed his commands in every respect; they soon
brought in a quantity of maise and other provisions, with several women,
a number of poor people, and five chiefs who had fought in the recent
battles. Sandoval ordered all these prisoners to be released, with the
exception of the five last mentioned, and ordered his troops not to
bring in any other prisoners excepting those who had had a hand in the
murder of the Spaniards. The rest of the inhabitants they were to
encourage to approach the town peaceably, and to live on terms of
friendship with the Spaniards.
Several officers of distinction belonging to Garay's troops, who had
done their worst to create the insurrection in this province, had
remained behind in the town on this last occasion. These gentlemen,
whose names I have mentioned above, considered themselves grossly
insulted when they found that Sandoval had not intrusted them with any
command, but had selected the veteran Conquistadores. They therefore
began to murmur and to inveigh bitterly against the dispositions which
Sandoval had made, and even spoke to Garay's son of making common cause
with the inhabitants, and of revolutionizing the province. After
Sandoval had regarded their intrigues in silence for some time, he at
length addressed these discontented personages to the following effect:
"Instead, gentlemen, of being thankful to me for having marched into
this province to your assistance, and for rescuing you from the imminent
danger in which you lived, you have, I hear, thrown out language against
me which little becomes cavaliers of your stamp. It is no dishonour to
you that I put those in command who have proved themselves able
officers. I should, indeed, have been a fool had I not done so; and if
you had shown yourselves equally deserving, I should not have forgotten
you: but I should like to know whether you showed any fitness to command
when you allowed yourselves to be hemmed in on all sides by the Indians.
You yourselves have unanimously declared that you would have been on the
brink of destruction had it not been for the eight veteran
Conquistadores; it is for this reason, and because they are acquainted
with the country, that I intrusted them with the command. These
jealousies never entered our mind when we were besieging Mexico; our
only thoughts were how we should best be able to promote his majesty's
interests. Follow, therefore, our example for the future. I do not
intend staying much longer here, for I must soon return to Mexico, if,
at least, these Indians do not kill me; but he whom I shall leave behind
as Cortes' commandant of this town will not allow you much leisure time;
therefore, moderate your anger, and learn to judge better of me in
future!" Here Sandoval ended, but all he said produced very little
effect.
The following day Sandoval marched out with the whole of his troops, and
made so excellent a disposition of his men, that he captured above
twenty caziques who had all been concerned in the massacre of Garay's
troops and of several other Spaniards belonging to the colony. He then
invited all the townships to send him messengers of peace, which they
accordingly did, with the exception of a few. After this, he forwarded
an account to Cortes of every circumstance, and requested to know what
course he was to adopt with the prisoners, and whom he should appoint
commandant of Santisteban in the room of Vallejo; nor did he omit to
mention the courage and skill which the eight veterans above mentioned
had throughout displayed.
Cortes received this letter just at the moment when he was surrounded by
a great number of the old Conquistadores, and by several Spaniards who
had recently arrived from Spain. He was highly delighted to find that
Sandoval had so speedily quelled the disturbances, and exclaimed aloud,
in the presence of all, "O! Sandoval, how much am I not indebted to you,
and what vast fatigues do you not undergo for me?" Every person present
joined in the praise of Sandoval, declaring unanimously that he was a
most excellent officer, and might be compared with the most renowned
captains of any age.
Cortes, in answer to Sandoval's letter, told him that those of the
Indians who had been guilty of the murder of so many Spaniards, and had
wantonly killed so great a number of horses, were to be tried and
punished according to law; for which purpose he would despatch to him
the alcalde major Diego de Ocampo, who would investigate the matter in
due form. The remaining part of the population he was to treat with
every possible kindness, and strictly to forbid the troops of Garay or
any other Spaniards to plunder or in anywise to ill-use the inhabitants.
Sandoval was vastly pleased when Ocampo arrived, who, without delay,
brought the Indian caziques and chiefs to trial; and, as they themselves
confessed they had had a hand in the murder of the Spaniards above
mentioned, they were found guilty, and some were sentenced to be hung,
some to be burnt alive, and others were liberated altogether. The sons
and brothers of those who had been sentenced to death were appointed to
the vacant caziquedoms, according to their respective rightful claims.
Here Ocampo's business did not end, for he was likewise empowered by
Cortes to institute inquiries against those of Garay's troops who had
strolled about the country like so many banditti, and thereby caused the
insurrection among the Indian population. The whole of these fellows
Ocampo put on board one of the vessels, and sent them to the island of
Cuba. Grijalva he left the choice, by command of Cortes, either to
accept of 2000 pesos, which would instantly be paid down to him, and
sail with the others to Cuba, or to repair to Mexico and enter the
service of Cortes, by which he would benefit himself and be raised to
high honours; but he, with the whole of them, chose rather to return to
Cuba, where the greater part had Indian commendaries. This vessel was
therefore well victualled, and sailed under the command of a certain
Vallecillo for the last-mentioned island.
Ocampo and Sandoval, upon this, returned to Mexico, where they were
splendidly received by Cortes and the whole town; and the joy at
Sandoval's triumphant return was the greater, as every one had
entertained doubts as to the probable issue of this campaign. Father
Olmedo even proposed a day of thanksgiving, which was accordingly
celebrated in the church of our dear Lady. For the rest, this province
ever after remained very tranquil and obedient.