_How the captains Castro and Pedro Anzures went out to
reconnoitre, and how the royal army advanced to give battle,
each captain encouraging his men and exhorting them to fight._
Now approached that fateful Saturday[125] on which the battle was
fought. All the heights of Chupas, and their steep slopes, were
crowded with the natives of those regions, some following the Almagro
faction, some the party of Pachacama. In both camps there were many
_pallas_,[126] natives of Cuzco much beloved by the Spaniards, whose
feeling they reciprocated, delighting to dwell in the service of such
doughty men and to act as proxies for their lawful wives in Spain.
When they saw the last day of the war at hand they foresaw the death
that must befall their lovers and wandered, wailing and dishevelled,
according to the custom of the country, from place to place. The
Indians made such a clamour that it was heard over the valleys and
heights of Chupas and their yells were re-echoed beyond in the gorges
of the Andes, so that these same Indians were frightened at the sound
of their own voices. But they were delighted at seeing the spectacle
of Spaniards fighting against each other without having any reasonable
quarrel, and gave thanks to the Sun for the glorious revenge about to
be taken for the ills that had been inflicted on their elders.
As the enemies were now drawing near together the men of Chile pitched
their camp, with the intention of striking the tents during the second
night watch and marching, if possible, into Guamanga, and thence by
the Guaytara road on to Lima.
At this juncture the forces of Vaca de Castro were encamped in the
valley of Chupas,[127] and to reach the summit of the spur there was
more than a league of ascent.[128] The scouts sent out by Vaca de
Castro had got so far as to see the camp of Don Diego, and, after a
spirited discussion with other scouts of their party, returned to
report that Don Diego was nearing the summit of the hills. When Vaca
de Castro heard this, he ordered captain Pedro de Castro, with a
hundred Spanish arquebusiers, to set out at once for the summit, and
try to get there before the enemy could occupy it. Captain Castro
immediately departed on this service, followed by Captain Pedro
Anzures with his troop of lancers as a rear-guard.
Using all possible speed, Castro reached the heights where he posted
his company, Anzures following him closely. Soon they descried the
scouts of Don Diego coming out from the camp to see what was going
on and whether the enemy had pitched his camp or was making for the
height. Seeing the arquebusiers there, it was clear to them that these
were already in possession, and after some words had passed between
them, such as are customary under such circumstances, they returned to
the camp. Meanwhile, Vaca de Castro and his captains set out, in the
best order they could, to join the soldiers who were in his camp and
on the height. Moving as rapidly as possible, they arrived a little
after the hour of vespers. Here there presently assembled Vaca de
Castro and the captains
Pero Alvarez Holguin
Alonso de Alvarado
Garcilaso de la Vega
Pedro Anzures
Diego de Rojas
Francisco de Caravajal
(_Sergeant Major_)
with other cavaliers and principal persons. They held a consultation
to decide on what they should do, and whether it would be more prudent
to give battle to the enemy on the following day, or to wait until it
was seen what Don Diego de Almagro would do. There were differences
of opinion among the gathering. Some, for reasons they gave, said
that they ought not to give battle until they understood the enemy's
intentions. Others said that they should leave the present position,
and occupy one nearer the enemy, and that the choice of it would be
in their own hands. Others also advised that the encounter should not
be put off until later than the next morning at daybreak; because, at
such times, a lost opportunity is not readily regained, and quickness
and suddenness of attack count for much, whilst to delay is to court
disaster. Alonso de Alvarado was of this opinion, and told Vaca de
Castro that, without further ado, the battle should be joined on
the coming morn, for the soldiers were ready and eager and the first
shock of a conflict is steady and forceful, because the heated blood
courses through the body and gives strength to the men. If that flush
of vigour wavers or cools down, their minds are apt to become more
timorous than bold and they lose their steadiness. To this and other
things, Vaca de Castro answered: "Is your brain good?"[129] and he
proceeded to reply to what had been said. Finally it was resolved
by all to give battle, and again they turned to encourage the men,
urging that they fought for the honour of the King, and that they must
display all the valour that was in them, with other exhortations.
Don Diego and his captains did not sleep during this time; on the
contrary, they were thinking over further topics before deciding what
they should do. They saw that they could not now, with the enemy so
near, get into Guamanga without difficulty, and that it would be
better to put that scheme aside and give battle; so, after commending
themselves to God, they resolved to fight. Don Diego, seeing that
the battle was inevitable, mounted his horse, with his lance in his
hand, and, turning to the soldiers, addressed them thus: "Oh captains,
to whom I owe so much, and soldiers so valorous! the battle must be
fought, for the enemy is at hand. Bear in mind that to-day is the day
when fortune promises us the government of the country, with full
vengeance on our enemies and the best _repartimientos_ for yourselves,
so do not fail to smite those who have shown themselves to be our
enemies. You know that neither has it been my desire nor yours to do
anything contrary to the service of the King, and that in the end it
will rest with your arms to condemn the loser as a tyrant, and the
conqueror will be held to be loyal." Saying these words and others, he
exhorted his friends to prepare for the battle they had to fight.
[Illustration: THE COUNTRY around GUAMANGA]
[Illustration: SITE of the BATTLE OF CHUPAS 1542
Hakluyt Society: Series II, vol. 42]
[DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY AROUND THE BATTLE FIELD OF CHUPAS.
By C. R. M.
The position of the battle of Chupas is interesting. Prescott
and Helps had not a true idea of it. Prescott wrote of "the
bloody _plains_ of Chupas," and "the neighbouring lowlands known
as the _plains_ of Chupas": Helps as "the _valley_ of Chupas."
These are quite wrong terms for the place. Chupas is neither a
plain nor a valley, but a farm on a lofty Andean spur.
The city of Guamanga (now called _Ayacucho_) is in 13° 8´ S.
Lat., 72° 2´ W. Long., and 8660 feet above the sea. There is a
small plain outside the town to north-west, called the _Pampa
del Arco_, but the battle field was miles away, on the other
side.
Guamanga is at the western base of the great maritime
cordillera, its slopes descending in long spurs, with
intervening ravines, to the city and its neighbourhood. The
scene of the battle was high up, 9,500 feet above the sea,
extending over two of these spurs and the ravine between them.
The road from Guamanga to Yca across the maritime cordillera,
leaves the city along a pretty avenue, and then up the hill of
Carmenca and the steeper ascent of Quica-pata.[130] Half way
up this ascent a path turns off to the left, skirting along
the spurs of the cordillera, and after two miles the ravine of
_Lambras-huayccu_[131] is reached. Here, on the spur, Vaca de
Castro formed his first camp. The stream below supplies Guamanga
with water. In the upper part of the ravine there is a swamp
during part of the year. Its width is about half a mile, more
in some parts, wide enough for cavalry charges. On its further
side the ascent is steep, and on this spur the artillery of
Almagro was posted, near what is now the farm house of Chupas.
All this country is now covered with wheat fields. Guamanga
would be easily reached by following the Lambras-huayccu stream.
Lying 9,500 feet above the sea, Chupas is exposed to storms of
snow in the winter and early spring. Beyond Chupas, on another
spur, is the farm of my old friend Don Manuel Tello, called
_Cochabamba_. The view towards the cordillera is very grand.
The sides of some of the gorges form perpendicular precipices,
above which rise the snowy peaks. Beyond Cochabamba is the wheat
farm of another of my old friends called _cojo_ Arias;[132] and
further on is the village of _Chiara_, whence the road leads
by _Sachapampa_ and _Pomacocha_, to Vilcas. This was the route
taken by Almagro's army from Vilcas, after crossing the lofty
ridge of Cangallo. Guamanga is now usually written Huamanga.
_Cojo_ Arias told me that bones and a spur had been found on
his estate; also that Alonso de Alvarado brought some Indians
of Chachapoyas with him and that, for services in the battle,
they were granted land with freedom from tribute, and that they
founded the village of Chiara. The wheat farm of Chupas belonged
to Don Basilio Guillen.
My visit to the battle field of Chupas was on 26 February 1853.]
FOOTNOTES:
[125] 16th of September 1542.
[126] Inca ladies.
[127] Ravine of Lambra Luopica, _not_ Chupas.
[128] Only a mile and a quarter.
[129] _Y vuestro buen seso_ [_sic_] in the manuscript.
[130] _Quica_ is grey in Quichua, _pata_ an ascent.
[131] _Lambras_ is the local name for a tree like an elder. _Huayccu_
means a ravine.
[132] Lame (_cojo_) Arias. I did not know his Christian name.