C 298 ) 



high reputation as an officer, but whofe fervices on this day were moil 

 important, for the whole caufeway was crouded with the enemy. We 

 were as yet ignorant of the fate of our other detachments. Sandoval was 

 above half a league diftant, and Cortes ftill farther. The melancholy 

 fight of the remains of our countrymen, and the lofs of one of our vef- 

 fels, three of the foldiers of which the enemy had killed, impreffed our 

 minds with defpair, and we thought this the lafl: hour of our lives. 

 The veffel was afterwards recovered by that commanded by Captain Juan 

 Xararnillo. Captain Juan de Limpias Caravajal, who now lives iniLa 

 Piiebla, a moft gallant officer, had the honor of being the firft who with 

 his veffel broke through the enemies pallifades, totally lofing his hear- 

 ing, from this day, by excefs of courage. 



Cortes, moft of whofe foldiers had been killed, and what remain- 

 ed alive, wounded, was attacked in his quarters by a great body of the 

 enemy, who threw over to him the heads of four of our companions, 

 alledging them to be thofe of Alvarado, Sandoval, and others, in order 

 to imprefs the foldiers of Cortes and our allies with the idea, that they 

 had been equally fuccefsful againft the other detachments. When Cortes 

 beheld the h6rrid fpedlacle his heart funk within him, but he kept up 

 appearances, and ordering all to iland to their arms, made a front to the 

 enemy. He then fent Andres de Tapia with three more mounted men 

 to our quarters, in order to afcertain what the ftate of affairs was. In 

 their way- thither they were attacked by many bodies of the enemy, 

 whom the king of Mexico had placed upon a plan of intercepting our 

 communications. On their arrival they found us engaged with the Mex- 

 ican forces. They at that time concealed the lofs of Cortes, ftating it 

 at no more than five and twenty. 



It is now neceffary to advert to Sandoval, who had gone on victo- 

 rious until the defeat of Cortes; after which the enemy turned on him, 

 and in their firft attack killed two foldiers and wounded all the reft, giv- 

 ing Sandoval himfelf three wounds, one of which was in the head. 

 As they had done elfewhere, they threw before his troops fix heads of 



their 



