campaign against itzcuintlan—a rough march—the town surprised—desperate defence—alvarado determines to explore still farther south—crossing the river michatoyat—the spaniards come to atiquipac, tacuylula, taxisco, nancintlan, and pazaco—the towns deserted—poisoned stakes and canine sacrifice—enter salvador—moquizalco and acatepec—battles of acajutla and tacuxcalco—blood-thirstiness of this conqueror—entry into cuzcatlan—flight of the inhabitants—return to patinamit.
conquest of itzcuintlan.
while receiving at patinamit, after the zutugil campaign, the fealty of numerous chieftains of the southern coast provinces, alvarado was told that the district of itzcuintlan[xxvi-1] defied him. and with their refusal to accept the benefits of christian civilization certain irritating expressions of contempt were reported to have been uttered by the ruler of the province. chiefs of other tribes who wished to pass through it, in order to tender allegiance to the spaniards, were deterred and insulted, and the conqueror was challenged to enter the land.[xxvi-2] somewhat ruffled by these bold proceedings, the impetuous commander marched against itzcuintlan with all his available force, spanish horse and foot, and a large body of quichés and 664 cakchiquels.[xxvi-3] it was a very rough country through which he had to pass. roads there were none, other than mere tracks through the thick woods, for intercourse with itzcuintlan had been almost entirely closed, owing to incessant war; but these circumstances favored a secret entrance into the hostile territory. for three days they forced their way through an uninhabitable tract almost closed to man by tropical undergrowth, which required constant application of axe and knife, so that one day they were unable to proceed more than two leagues. on reaching the province it was found covered with thick plantations alternating with swamps. such ground being no place for horses, the arquebusiers took the front, and advanced upon the town from three different quarters. it was raining heavily at the time, a shower preliminary to the season of rain, and the sentinels had retired, so that the surprise was complete.[xxvi-4] unable to arm or unite, the inhabitants fled to the woods to escape the swords of the conquerors. in the fort, however, which commanded the town, a considerable body of warriors had gathered, who offered a determined resistance, wounding many spaniards and causing great loss to the indian auxiliaries. after five hours of unavailing attempts to gain possession of the stronghold, the enraged alvarado set fire to the place. the brave defenders appear to have escaped, thanks to the heavy rain and the proximity of the surrounding woods. indeed, according to alvarado's own 665 statement, he did no harm beyond burning the town.[xxvi-5] the subjection of the district was not yet accomplished, however, and messengers were sent to the ruler with the usual summons and threats. if they persisted in keeping aloof and refusing to submit, their lands and cornfields would be devastated, and they and their children made slaves. this menace had the desired effect; the cacique and his chiefs submitted and swore obedience, and during the eight days alvarado remained in this place a number of the surrounding towns sent in their allegiance. but the restless spirit of both leader and men was not to be satisfied with the subjugation of one province only. the lieutenant-general had heard exciting accounts of immense cities and wonderful palaces, and discovery was almost as attractive to him as pacification. he had already informed cortés that it was his intention to winter fifty or one hundred leagues beyond guatemala. as an additional incentive he had received positive information that a march of twenty-five days from guatemala would bring him to the end of the land: if that should prove to be the case he was confident of finding soon the famous strait, for which so many were searching.[xxvi-6] besides the strait he desired also to find a harbor where he could construct vessels for exploring the coast at a later date. already a great soldier, he desired to become also a great discoverer. even the rainy season, which has just set in, should not deter him, though his difficulties would be greatly increased thereby.
towns taken.
starting southward, then, from itzcuintlan, the first difficulty encountered by the army was the river 666 michatoyat,[xxvi-7] which could be crossed only by bridging. the first town reached was atiquipac,[xxvi-8] where the spaniards were amicably received, but at sunset the people abandoned their homes and fled to the mountains.[xxvi-9] 667 there was no time to be wasted with them, for the roads might at any time be rendered impassable by the rains, and so the army pushed forward after branding a few unfortunates as slaves,[xxvi-10] the commander taking every precaution in the disposition of his forces for the security of baggage and the protection of the auxiliaries. the next town reached was tacuylula, standing to-day under the same name. the reception here was similar to the former, except, perhaps, that the natives detected the quality of their visitors more quickly than did the people of atiquipac. within an hour they had all fled.[xxvi-11]
from tacuylula they advanced to taxisco, where, according to alvarado's report, the inhabitants appeared friendly.[xxvi-12] they passed the night in the town, with every precaution against attack, for it was strong and populous, and the spaniards were under no little apprehension of an assault. they were unmolested, however, and left on the following morning for the town of nancintlan.[xxvi-13] for better security the commander placed ten horsemen in the rear and an equal number in the centre with his baggage, while with the remainder of the cavalry he led the van. he had advanced between two and three leagues when a fierce assault was made upon his rear, wherein a number 668 of his indian allies were killed, and, what he deplored still more, a great quantity of his baggage, stores, and material was carried off.[xxvi-14]
this was a grave loss, and the commander immediately sent his brother, jorge alvarado, with forty or fifty of the cavalry to attempt a recapture. on arriving at the scene of the late disaster this officer fell in with a large body of warriors[xxvi-15] and put them to flight, but recovered none of the lost effects. in the mean time the army arrived at nancintlan, and jorge alvarado having returned with little or nothing accomplished, puertocarrero[xxvi-16] was sent back with a detachment of foot-soldiers. the second attempt was as unsuccessful as the first. the fact is, the country was all in arms; the natives had retired to mountain fastnesses, whence they issued forth to attack as occasion offered. nancintlan had also been abandoned, save by the principal men who were detained as prisoners. during the eight days' stay[xxvi-17] here, alvarado sought in vain to induce the people to return, and, as he could delay his march no longer, out of pure spite the dastardly commander burned the town and his prisoners.[xxvi-18]
the spaniards now advanced to the neighboring 669 town of pazaco.[xxvi-19] the lieutenant-general had already received an invitation from the chiefs, with protestations of friendship, which could hardly have been sincere, for as the spaniards approached the town their advance was interrupted by short poisoned stakes, ingeniously hidden in the ground.[xxvi-20] the roads, also, were found to be closed near the town, with all possible impediments to an advance. as they entered the place, the spectacle of a canine sacrifice, a ceremonial significant of hatred and defiance, met their gaze.[xxvi-21] nor were hostilities long delayed. at a signal the natives suddenly appeared, shouting their shrill war-cries, and threw upon the spaniards so heavy a discharge of arrows, lances, and stones, that it was with difficulty they held their ground. slowly but surely, however, spanish weapons and coats of mail prevailed, and the indians, unable to stand before them, fled to the surrounding heights, amidst the attendant horrors of pursuit.[xxvi-22]
across la paza into salvador.
the army thereupon passed across the la paz river[xxvi-23] into what is now the state of salvador, first entering moquizalco,[xxvi-24] and then they went to acatepec. 670 both of these towns received the strangers hospitably, but the inhabitants soon fled, overcome by terror at the cruelties committed. angered by this continual desertion, alvarado ordered the indians to be pursued, and as many of them as could be seized were branded as slaves. he then hastened forward, directing his march to acajutla.[xxvi-25] on arriving within half a league of the town he encountered a mighty host drawn up in battle array to oppose him, their ranks extending over a wide plain that lay before the city. 671 it was indeed an inspiriting sight for an indian fighter. times had been somewhat tame for the last few days, but here was the promise of rare sport, indeed. alvarado, who was in advance with the cavalry, approached to within a cross-bow shot, and then halted for his infantry to come up. as he ran his experienced eye over the forests of spears, and marked the magnitude of the hostile array, he felt that all his coolness and all his skill would be required to save his army that day. war plumes waved from the heads of thousands, and battle devices were scattered as far as the eye could reach, while the feathered banners floating above the parti-colored bands threw over all an air of peculiar brilliance.[xxvi-26] the foe had chosen, too, an advantageous position. in their rear thick woods offered easy refuge in case of need. yet already, before they were his own, alvarado began to plan that none should escape him. he stood there like a hunter overlooking a band of antelope, and thinking how he could best secure them all. of what advantage was it to charles, or cortés, or even to these panting wolves themselves, that this ill fated multitude to the last man should die?
into salvador
noble game.
as the remainder of his forces[xxvi-27] came up, alvarado advanced a little nearer to the enemy. the indians manifested no inclination to leave their position; they appeared to be awaiting attack. alvarado then feigned retreat, which the army performed in perfect order, though in apparent haste,[xxvi-28] the commander himself having charge of the rear. the result was as he anticipated. the duped natives eagerly pursued; at 672 last, they thought, these beings maledict are afraid. and they flew at them with wild demonstrations of joy at the expected victory, making in their onset such a roar as would have appalled any but veteran troops. in their blind enthusiasm they grappled and struggled with the retiring cavalry, seizing the horses' tails and the riders' stirrups. their arrows rattled thick like hailstones against the metal armor of the soldiers, or with angry hiss passed them by, reaching to the farthest end of the spanish army. for some time this movement continued over the level plain, on which no obstacle interposed to prevent its successful achievement.[xxvi-29] after thus drawing the enemy away from the friendly wood, and to such ground as best suited the purpose, the order was given; the spanish army wheeled and fell on the unprepared foe like a storm of sodom. sennacherib's hosts before jerusalem met no more complete destruction than the army of warriors before acajutla that day. incased in cumbersome cotton armor, they could not flee, and when overthrown by the charging horsemen they could not rise again.[xxvi-30] as they lay helpless on the ground the infantry and auxiliaries would cut and pierce them as if they had been swine, following as zealously as possible the example of alvarado, who, severely wounded[xxvi-31] and out of humor, vented his malignant spleen upon these home-defenders. ah! war is a glorious thing; and grand that civilization which refines and ennobles war! 673
another great battle.
the revenge of the chivalrous commander was ample; not one of all that multitude of warriors was left alive upon the field.[xxvi-32] when the extermination was finished the victorious army entered acajutla, and remained there five days caring for their wounded, of whom there was a great number; then they passed on to tacuxcalco.[xxvi-33] pedro puertocarrero had been sent forward to reconnoitre, and succeeded in capturing two spies, who reported that the warriors of this town and its dependencies were assembled in large numbers to oppose their advance, whereupon the scouting party proceeded until they arrived within sight of the enemy. gonzalo de alvarado, who led the van, his brother being ill of his wound, presently came up with forty of the cavalry, and drew up in order, waiting for the main body to arrive. the commander, though still suffering severely, mounted a horse as best he could and issued his orders. the indians were drawn up in one solid phalanx; he would assail them on three sides at once. thirty of the cavalry, under the command of gonzalo de alvarado, were to attack the right, his brother gomez was ordered to lead twenty more against the left, while jorge[xxvi-34] was to charge the front with the rest of the forces.
these arrangements made, he took his post on elevated ground above the battle field. even his stout heart sank somewhat within him as he viewed the scene. one portion of the plain was covered with a forest of tall spears,[xxvi-35] and the compact body of foemen 674 told him that they were even more numerous than the army he had defeated a few days before.[xxvi-36] his apprehensions were in no wise lessened as he watched his forces draw near the enemy and observed how immovable they stood, and without sign of fear. but what seemed to him most strange was that his own men hesitated to charge. he afterward ascertained that between the opposing lines lay a narrow meadow which the spaniards mistook for a swamp, and delayed their onset until they had assured themselves of the firmness of the ground. presently the stirring cry of santiago! was heard, and alvarado's heart swelled within him: his passion for human blood appears to increase with the slaughter of his tens of thousands, and the lately gay and gallant cavalier is becoming a monster delighting in carnage and butchery, killing men for the mere pleasure of it. with a feeling of fierce delight the wounded man now watched his army break into the indian columns. he marked the rout and bloody pursuit, and noticed with satisfaction how the plain became streaked with dead bodies in the track of the fugitives and pursuers, which ghastly line was soon over a league in length.
march on cuzcatlan.
taking possession of the town, the spaniards remained in it for two days, and then moved on to mihuatlan.[xxvi-37] all the towns and villages hereabout were found deserted; the natives seemed to have discovered that there was no chance of success in the field, and no escape from oppression when once their liberty was lost. at atecuan[xxvi-38] the commander was met by envoys from atlacatl, the king of cuzcatlan, bearing proffers of friendship, which were received with satisfaction, for the delay and fatigue of battle with the reward of empty towns, however pleasurable, 675 seemed profitless.[xxvi-39] so far, indeed, alvarado seems to have effected little with respect to the actual conquest of the country. his line of march was marked by heaps of slain, by burned cities and deserted villages,[xxvi-40] but as for native subjects of his majesty, or christian converts, or colonies, or any permanent advantages, they were few. if, now in the very heart of the country, he could gain a faithful ally, a second sinacam, pacification might become more permanent and profitable. to this end he directed his march toward cuzcatlan,[xxvi-41] the capital of that country, a large and beautiful city, inhabited by a considerable population, and, according to the report of the conquerors, hardly second to patinamit.
although the indians along the road manifested their friendliness by supplying the spaniards with fruits and fresh provisions in abundance, and although they were cordially welcomed into the city by the chiefs, yet on taking up their quarters the whole population rushed to arms, and a few hours after the city was deserted.[xxvi-42] all efforts at reconciliation on the part of alvarado were unavailing. summons to obedience and menaces were equally disregarded, and a formal requirement was sent, coupled with the 676 usual conditions; but no reply came. then the invaders tried force, but for once they were baffled. for fully seventeen days the most strenuous exertions were made to subdue them, during which time several sanguinary encounters occurred, wherein a number of spaniards were wounded and eleven horses killed, the auxiliaries suffering severely. thus even the occupation of the capital failed to secure the primary object of the invasion.
alvarado now perceived that with the present force he never would be able to subjugate these cuzcatecs, and he saw that his position was becoming critical. the rainy season was now well upon him, the roads were becoming bad, and every day would render retreat more difficult. the return march extended over several hundred miles, and he could not expect to meet with much hospitality or assistance. he decided, therefore, to return to guatemala. but before he set out he would make legally secure his claim upon the vassalage of the cuzcatecs. with this view he instituted a process against them in the form prescribed by law, and summoned them to surrender. as no attention was paid to his proclamation, proceedings were closed after the legal time had expired and sentence was passed. they were pronounced traitors and their chiefs condemned to death.[xxvi-43]
christianizing and branding.
this solemn ceremony ended,[xxvi-44] alvarado was ready to depart from the country, though not till he had branded all he could lay hands upon. he was somewhat 677 chagrined at his failure to draw the cuzcatecs into the fold; but he would return again. indeed, this was imperative, for the cuzcatlan campaign had been quite unproductive[xxvi-45] in securing either wealth or dominion. from itzcuintlan to cuzcatlan there was scarcely a town that would not require a second subjugation. an additional cause of vexation lay in the statement of natives that no strait existed toward the south.[xxvi-46] on the other hand he was gratified to learn of great cities beyond, built of stone and lime, and inhabited by dense populations, and he promised himself due compensation from them for his present disappointment. of his homeward march particulars are unnecessary. that the way was difficult and that the soldiers suffered much we may be sure.[xxvi-47] pinched by hunger, drenched by rain, midst the lightning and the thunder, they beat their way back over the soft soaked ground, braving the heavens and the earth which seemed to have risen against them. at night, if no deserted town afforded shelter, the worn-out men, after partaking of scanty fare and shivering in wet clothes round feeble camp fires, threw themselves upon the swampy ground to sleep. yet with all their sufferings they did not scruple to destroy fields, burn such villages as fell in their way, and so reduce others to the same sad plight as themselves. sweet to us are the misfortunes of others!
