( 346 ) 



tridts until he had fo completely fubjugated them, as that if fhould not 

 fee in their power again to make difturbance. Sandoval was a man who 

 did! not fleep at night when on any bufinefs of importance; of courfe 

 he made no delay upon his route, towards the enemy, who expedled 

 him in two narrow defiles, where they had concentrated the whole force 

 of the refradory provinces. Sandoval on learning this divided his force 

 into two bodies, and attacked each of thefe pofts. The Indians refifted 

 with their darts and arrows, whereby many of our foldiers were wound- 

 ed, infomuch that he was obliged to halt the body which he command- 

 ed in that bad pofition, and fend orders to his other detachment to do 

 the fame for that night. The Indians retaining their firft pofition, San- 

 doval recalled his detachment, and began his retreat towards Mexico. 

 When the enemy perceived this, they thought themfelves conquerors, 

 and began to follow and furround the Spaniards from all parts, fhout- 

 ing at, and reviling them. This Sandoval feemed not to regard, but 

 continued his retreat, by which having completely deceived them, he 

 made a fiidden countermarch at midnight, to gain the palTes. This he 

 efFed:ed, but not without the lofs of three of his horfes, and confidera- 

 ble danger to his whole army, many of whom were wounded. No 

 fooner were his two columns clear of the defiles, than he perceived in 

 front vaft bodies of Indians, who had arrived there that very night, on 

 hearing that he had countermarched. He therefore again brought his 

 whole force into one body, and perceiving the defperation with which the 

 Indians fought, and that they had actually wrefted the lances out of the 

 hands of fix of his foldiers, while his cavalry was compofed of men 

 unufed to fuch fervice, he gave them full inftrudtions how to a(5t, tel- 

 ling them not to halt to give thrufts, becaufe the firfi: thing 

 that the Indian does when wounded is, to feize the lance. He farther 

 dired:ed, that if fuch a thing happened, the foldier (hould put fpurs 

 to his horfe, and with the lance firmly grafped in his hand, and under 

 his arm, wreft it from the enemy by the force of the horfe. Having 

 then placed watches, guards, and patroles, he gave orders that the ca- 

 valry fhould remain feddkd all night, and the troops went to their re- 



pofe 



