_Of the cruel battle between Vaca de Castro and Don Diego de
Almagro, and how the men of Chile were routed and defeated with
the loss of many lives, and their party for ever undone._
The night having passed with great fears and hopes, each party
thinking that they had justice on their side, the captains ordered the
ensigns to muster their companies, and to give the signal by beat of
drum that the soldiers, on hearing it, might know that the time for
giving battle was so near that it only needed one side to strike the
first blow. So the men of Chile went forth full of ardour, and raising
their shouts to heaven, advanced with their hearts animated against
their foes, and with minds longing to satisfy their hatred of their
enemies. Their artillery, consisting of sixteen pieces, was placed in
a good position, so that, from whatever point the enemy might try to
assail it, it would overcome all attacks. The cavalry was formed into
two squadrons, one under Don Diego himself and Juan Balsa, the other
led by the captains Saucedo and Diego Méndez. One of these squadrons
was larger than the other, and its flanks were held by Diego de Hoces
and the same Diego Méndez. The infantry, stationed in rear of the
artillery, was under Martín de Bilbao; and Martín Cote, a most valiant
captain, led the arquebusiers, having detailed those necessary for
the front of the squadron and either flank. The standard was planted
near the squadron led by Don Diego, and Pedro de Candía was with the
artillery, ready to fire whenever the order should be given. The
Sergeant-major, Pedro Suárez, went about from one part to another,
giving necessary orders. He was relied upon for his knowledge of war,
having served in several countries, and being well versed in the art.
In the forefront of the squadron there were men at arms posted, and
the whole force numbered 550 Spaniards, a very brilliant array, for in
truth there were cavaliers of good family, as we have pointed out in
several places.[133]
While Don Diego and his followers were marshalling their forces, Vaca
de Castro ordered Lope Martín, a bold man, to mount his horse and go
forward to reconnoitre the enemy's position. He did so, and returned
after he had seen them, telling the Camp-master Francisco de Caravajal
how the artillery was placed. As soon as he knew this, he ordered his
men to march more to the right, and led the way himself, saying many
witty things. Then they saw that it was time to marshal the squadrons,
and placed them in the positions assigned to them, with their banners.
The captains Pero Alvarez Holguin, Gómez de Alvarado, Garcilaso de
la Vega, and Pedro Anzures, with their companies of horsemen, formed
one squadron. In the other was the captain Alonso de Alvarado, with
his cavalry, and the royal standard. The infantry were formed up
between the cavalry squadrons, with the captains Pedro de Vergara and
Juan Vélez de Guevara at their head, and the captain Castro with the
vanguard. They had 160 arquebusiers, and they mustered in all more
than 700 Spaniards.
The Governor Vaca de Castro did not enter into the battle. He remained
apart from the actual fray, giving it to be understood by his words
that he wanted to fight, but, as the captains represented to him
that this was not desirable, he retired. He sent to the squadron of
Alonso de Alvarado, where the royal standard, then borne by Cristóbal
de Barrientos was, saying that he desired twenty-seven of the
principal persons to accompany him as an escort and bodyguard. When
Alonso de Alvarado heard this, he sent to say that such a thing was
not permissible; that, in an army of 20,000 men, the withdrawal or
retention of even twenty men might turn the scale of victory. Although
Vaca de Castro saw that there was reason in this, he again ordered his
captain of the guard, Rodrigo de Ocampo, to come to him with Lorenzo
de Aldana, Diego de Agüero, Francisco de Godoy, Diego Maldonado, the
licentiate León, Antonio Navarro, Sebastián de Merlo, Cristóbal de
Burgos, Nicolás de Ribera, and others up to twenty-seven; and these,
whilst wishing to remain at the front, turned to obey the order of
Vaca de Castro.
At this juncture, both sides discharged their arquebuses; and
Francisco de Caravajal said: "Forward! good cavaliers, forward!
advance without fear, and care nought for the arquebuses. Look at me,
how fat I am, yet I go forward without feeling any fear of them."
As they approached each other, the noise and the shouting were very
great. Both parties advanced courageously, those of Don Diego shouting
"Long live the King and Almagro," and the others "Long live the King
and Vaca de Castro," all calling upon the name of the apostle Saint
James, while the bullets from the arquebuses filled the air.
The Camp-master Pero Alvarez Holguin, after having passed through
and shown some excitement during the day, charged his horse against
the enemy, wishing to show his contempt for his opponents. Though
men of great valour are often not recognized in the smoke of battle,
Holguin was known by the device he wore. The enemy's arquebuses were
pointed against him, and he was hit by two bullets before he could
break his lance. He fell to the ground in the throes of death, and
never spoke again--just able to make a sign to his men to dash at the
enemy. Gómez de Tordoya was also wounded so badly that he died a few
days afterwards. And now the two sides encountered each other, both
infuriated one against the other. A great disaster to the men of Chile
then happened. It was that, when the captain Saucedo saw that the
sharpshooters were employing their arquebuses with effect, and had
caused some deaths, he thought it would be well to move the artillery
to another position, where one of the enemy's flanks was exposed--not
noticing that it was already so placed as to rout them all the moment
they should advance a little farther. He therefore ordered Pedro de
Candía to move it, upon seeing which Sergeant-major Suárez called
out loudly to him not to budge, for if it did not remain where it
was posted they were lost. But his words were disregarded and Candía
transferred the guns to the position Saucedo had directed. Then the
enemies mingled in the open with the soldiers of Almagro, and, though
many cannon shots were fired off, only one took effect, which did much
damage, tearing heads from bodies, and breaking the legs and arms of
others. The other shots were fired, as some say, too high, or missed
their mark owing to the artillery being so badly placed.
By this time great damage had been done and there were many dead. But
were I to set forth in detail each one who, when about to discharge
a bolt, was shot through the heart by a bullet and so instantly fell
dead,--or whose arms were shot away just as he was placing the match
to fire,--or others killed suddenly by a bullet just as they were
couching the lance or drawing the sword, the tale would never end. The
squadrons of horse clashed, brother breaking lance against brother,
but in that desperate peril no man would have hesitated to wound even
his father, if he had seen him. One Garcia de Mala, having lost an
arm, went forth out of the battle to where Vaca de Castro waited, and
asked him why he was not helping his people. On hearing this Diego de
Agüero rushed excitedly into the fray, and confronted the enemy. A
bullet passed through the mouth of Antonio de Loaysa, and knocked out
several of his back teeth, causing him to swoon. The cavalry fought
with desperate valour and with a fervour so inflamed by anger, that
no one cared to be wanting in ability to wound. Antonio de Robles,
having been thrown from his horse, without losing his intrepidity, and
he had not a little, turned with much agility towards the artillery
and wounded one of the gunners, also getting wounded himself. Pedro
de Candía did not discharge any more shots. The noise made by all was
very great.
The lad Don Diego whilst fighting away, was told that there had been
treason in the artillery firing. It is said that he went to Pedro de
Candía and exclaimed: "Traitor! why have you sold me?" and thrusting
at him with his lance, killed him. Others will have it that Candía
used deceit with Don Diego and was disloyal in the matter of the
artillery, but that he was killed by some soldiers of Vaca de Castro
who penetrated to where he was stationed. Don Diego, seeing that his
life depended on gaining the victory, went about in all parts of the
battle animating his men.
The captain Alonso de Alvarado, on this day, gave proofs of his
valour, and fought with great intrepidity. Diego de Rojas, Pedro
Anzures, Garcilaso de la Vega, and Pedro de Vergara did likewise.
The same is said of Juan Vélez de Guevara. The captain Martín de
Bilbao fought with Pedro de Castro. The battalions of infantry had
now driven home the pikes, and had penetrated their several quarries
with the iron points until they reached the entrails. All were now
turning back. Night showed signs of approach while yet the strife of
battle was at its highest pitch; and at last, both sides being worn
out with fatigue, they separated for a moment to gather breath for
a renewal of the conflict. In the part where the captain Alonso de
Alvarado was fighting, were Diego de Hoces and Saucedo with all the
leading men of the Chile party. Some of these they killed, and whilst
shouting "Victory!" they tried to capture others. Pedro de Vergara,
with some infantry, bore a hand in that part, and Alonso de Alvarado
being thus strengthened, ordered a renewed attack to disable the men
of Chile, seeing how few there were. Against the grain they fell back
for a short rest, still face to face, and then renewed the obstinate
contest. Swords clashed down on helmets, stunning their wearers, and
cut through coats of mail: then, pausing for a short space, apart,
men glared at each other like bulls in the rutting season. Then the
Sergeant-major Francisco de Caravajal called out, in a loud voice:
"Shame! shame! gentlemen of Cuzco! this is not a time for letting
these traitors remain in the field against us," and so saying he
rushed into the midst of the enemy. The horse of the licentiate Benito
Suárez de Caravajal was killed, and he boldly took his place among
the infantry, still fighting. There were many killed; and the wounded
uttered mournful groans, yet encouraging those who fought, some with
the battle cry of Almagro, others of Pizarro. The artillery was of
no use and did no damage, because Pedro de Candía and his men being
killed, there was no one to put a match to the guns.
As the battle was most fiercely contested in the part where Captain
Alvarado was, Don Diego, either to encourage his men, or because he
thought that his side was winning, began to call out loudly, "Victory!
Take prisoners, but kill not!" Then it was that a thing happened from
which it may well be said that death does not flee from a coward. The
captain Pedro Anzures had a servant of whom he asked, many times, if
he would not join in the battle. The man was not only unwilling, but,
to be more remote from danger, he got under some rocks where he could
have a clear view of what was going on, having by his side a small
skin of wine. When the artillery was in action a shot struck the rocks
where we have said this man was. It knocked off a boulder which fell
and smashed the head and body of the man to pieces, so that he died,
although he had been taking such care of himself.
The battle was at the critical point, and those who were standing with
Vaca de Castro went forward to reinforce their friends. They went
towards the place where the captain Diego Méndez was, thinking he was
one of their party because victory was already certain for Vaca de
Castro. As they went along singing a song of triumph, the men of Chile
saw they were enemies, and they killed Montalvo with some others, cut
off an arm of Cristóval de Burgos, a citizen of Lima, and wounded
Merlo in the face. Thus they succeeded in doing more damage; but the
Pachacama party, being the more numerous, though not surpassing their
opponents in bravery, it began to be seen which side must win. Don
Diego, and those of his captains who were still alive, continued to
encourage the survivors wherever they went. The sun had now set, and
after the men of Chile had done all that was possible to the utmost of
their ability, they were defeated, and it became clear that Vaca de
Castro's side were the conquerors.
A youth, named Jerónimo de Almagro, valuing his life very little,
and hating to be conquered, rushed in amongst the enemy shouting,
"Hi! strike your blows at me! at me! and wreak your vengeance. 'Twas
I who slew the Marquis." Saying thus he charged recklessly into the
host, and received so many blows that he fell dead headlong. Martín de
Bilbao did the same, saying that _he_ had murdered the Marquis; and
he met the same death as Jerónimo de Almagro.[134] Those who survived
began to flee, with loose rein and no little anguish.
The Indians and negroes who took any men alive, killed them.[135] The
Spaniards did uglier things, for they slashed the faces and bodies
of those who had surrendered, and reviled them with words. Diego de
Almagro fled towards Cuzco[136] with Diego Méndez, and the camp was
pillaged. The Almagro party was routed and broken up for ever. This
battle was fought late on Saturday afternoon the 16th of September, in
the year of our redemption 1542.
There were present on the side of Vaca de Castro the captains already
named and many other gentlemen, among whom were: Lorenzo de Aldana,
Diego de Agüero, Francisco de Godoy, Pedro de los Ríos, Gómez de
Tordoya, Diego Maldonado, Lope de Mendieta, D. Pedro Puertocarrero,
Pedro de Portugal, Pedro de Hinojosa, D. Alonso de Montemayor, Lope
Martín, Alonso de Mendoza, Diego Cénteno, Felipe Gutiérrez, D. Martín
de Guzmán, Pero López (secretary), Juan de Mora, Vasco de Guevara,
and others. With Don Diego there were the captains, and many valiant
gentlemen and men, among whom were D. Baltasar de Castilla, Jerónimo
de Almagro, Martín Carillo, Juan Tello, Juan Ortíz de Zárate, Pantoja,
Juan de la Rinega, Pedro de Oñate, and others.
The Licentiate Vaca de Castro was delighted at the good success and
the victory that God had given him. He ordered certain priests and
friars to attend on the wounded and to confess the dying. He also
directed a very careful search to be made for those who were concerned
in the murder of the Marquis Pizarro, that they might be punished.
But as the night was already quite dark, the orders of Vaca de Castro
could not be very completely carried into effect. Most of his soldiers
thought of nothing but plunder, and of appropriating horses from among
those that were straying about loose, and also of the Indian girls,
who were what the soldiers were most eager about in those times.
[OTHER OFFICERS IN THE ARMY OF VACA DE CASTRO AT THE BATTLE OF
CHUPAS. (_Note by C. R. M._)
Aliaga, Gerónimo de. Ancestor of the Counts of Lurigancho at Lima.
Alvarado, Alonso de. Cavalry--left wing.
Alvarado, Gómez de. An old captain of the Adelantado Almagro.
Anzures, Pedro de. Trusted captain of Pizarro cavalry--right wing.
Barbarán, Juan de.
Barriento, Cristóval, Ensign. Left wing.
Burgos, Cristóbal de. Wounded.
Caravajal, Illán Suárez de. Factor. Trusted friend of Pizarro.
Caravajal, Benito Suárez de (Licentiate), brother of the Factor.
Caravajal, Francisco de. Sergeant Major of the army. Led the
Infantry.
Cáceres, Alonso de. Tried to hide Carillo after the battle, but
failed.
Carrasco, Pedro Alonso.
Castro, Pedro de. An old and trusted captain of Pizarro. Garcilaso
calls him Lope. Infantry.
Guzmán, Diego Ortíz de.
Hinojosa, Alonso de.
Hojeda, Juan Julio de.
Holguin, Pero Alvarez. Camp Master (_i.e._
Quartermaster-general); killed in battle. Cavalry--right wing.
Lara, Gaspar.
Loaysa, Alonso de. Brother of the Bishop.
Loaysa, Gerónimo de.
León (Licentiate).
Macerela, Alonso.
Melo, García de. Wounded.
Mendoza, Lope de.
Merlo, Sebastián de. Wounded.
Montalvo. Killed in action.
Navarro, Antonio.
Ocampo, Rodrigo de.
Palomino, Juan Alonso.
Pancorvo, Juan de.
Quiñones, Antonio de}
Quiñones, Suero de } brothers.
Quiñones, Pedro de. Cousin. Ribera, Nicolás de. An old friend of
both Pizarro and Almagro.
Ríos, Diego de los.
Rojas, Diego de. A trusted young captain of Pizarro.
Rojas, Gabriel de.
Saavedra, Juan de. An old captain of the Adelantado Almagro.
Salas, Juan de.
Salas, Valdés de.
Serra, Miguel de la.
Soto, Alonso de.
Truxillo, Diego de.
Vásquez, Tomás. A turbulent character in every row.
Vega, Garcilaso de la. Captain for Pizarro, always loyal, always
trustworthy. Cavalry--right wing.
Verdugo, Melchor.
Vergara, Juan Vélez de. Infantry.
Vergara, Pedro de. Infantry.
FOOTNOTES:
[133] The real truth was that there was not a single one of the old
and trusted captains of the elder Almagro with his son; Diego de
Alvarado had gone to Spain, Orgónez and Lerma were slain at or after
Las Salinas, Francisco de Chaves had been murdered by Juan de Herrada,
and Sotelo by García de Alvarado. The rest were disgusted with the
murder of the Marquis and at Juan de Herrada being placed over them.
Four, indeed, were actually fighting in the army of Vaca Castro,
namely Gómez de Alvarado, Saavedra, Guevara, and Montemayor.
The murder of the ever faithful and very able Captain Sotelo was
a fatal blow to young Almagro. There was no one at Chupas that
he could trust. Six of his captains were actual assassins of the
Marquis Pizarro, three others were accomplices outside the chamber.
Little reliance could be placed on the rest. The assassins and their
accomplices would be fighting with ropes round their necks and would
fight hard. But the ill-fated young half-caste, with his ability and
bravery, was doomed.
[134] Both were assassins of the Marquis. They did this to escape the
halter.
[135] Some authorities say that the Inca Paula and his Indians, on the
side of Almagro, made an attack early in the day, which was repulsed.
[136] Juan Rodriquez Barragán, the ensign Enrique, and eight others
also fled with Don Diego, as well as Diego Méndez.
Juan Balsa, Almagro's Captain-general, fled to Vilcas where he was
killed by the natives. He had a house at Cuzco and had married an Inca
Princess.
Some authorities say that Pedro Suárez, when he marshalled Almagro's
army, told Don Diego to remain on the spur. His plan was to defend the
ascent from the Lambras-huayccu ravine and not to attack. It is said
that when Don Diego charged down at the head of his cavalry, Suárez
told him that he would be defeated, but that if he had taken his
advice he would have been victorious. It is added that he abandoned
Don Diego, and went over to the side of Vaca de Castro. This story is
not mentioned by Cieza de León.