The death of Montezuma loosed the Mexicans from all the restraints, which their veneration for his person and dignity had imposed on their actions. A war of extermination was the immediate consequence; and after various attacks, in which the Mexicans shewed the most daring resolution, and had even at one time seized Cortez, and were near carrying him off, the Spaniards found it necessary to retreat from a situation, in which they must be finally overwhelmed by the immense multitudes and incessant attacks of their enemies. This measure, however, was not effected without extreme difficulty. The Mexicans, astonished at the repeated efforts of Spanish valour, had now changed their system of hostility, and instead of incessant attacks, had adopted the measure of breaking the causeways, and barricading the streets, in order to cut off all communications between the Spaniards and the country. A retreat from Mexico, however, being now a measure of absolute necessity, it was effected in the night, but not without great loss; for the Mexicans, from whom their preparations could not be concealed, had not only broken the bridges, and made breaches in the causeways, but attacked them on all sides from the lake. All Mexico was in arms, and the lake was covered with canoes. The Spaniards, crowded together on the narrow causeway, were hemmed in on every side, and, wearied with slaughter, were unable to bear up against the weight of the torrent that poured in upon them; the confusion was universal; and the tremendous sounds of the warlike instruments of the Mexicans, with the shouts of their barbarian multitudes, gave additional horror to the scene. Cortez, with part of his soldiers, broke through the enemy; but numbers, overwhelmed by the multitudes of aggressors, were either killed on the causeway, or perished in the lake; while others, whom the Mexicans had taken alive, were dragged away in triumph to be sacrificed to the god of war, In this fatal retreat, which is yet distinguished in New Spain by the name of Noche Triste, or the night of sorrow, not less than half of the Spaniards, with above 2000 Ilascalans, were killed: many officers of distinction also perished, among whom was Velasquez de Lion, considered as the second person in the army, and in daring courage not inferior to Cortez him55 VOL. V. self. All the artillery, ammunition, and baggage, were lost; and this tremendous night was a scene of complicated disas ters. The whole empire was now in arms; and Cortez, having reviewed his shattered battalions, continued his retreat towards Ilascala, the only place where he could hope for a friendly reception. He met with no opposition till he reached the valley of Otumba, where the whole force of the Mexi cans was concentrated. When the Spaniards had reached the summit of an eminence, they saw the spacious valley through which they were obliged to pass, covered with an army that extended as far as the eye could reach, and appeared to be innumerable. At the sight of this immense multitude, the Spaniards were astonished, and even the boldest were inclined to despair. But Cortez, without allowing time for their fears to gain strength from reflection, briefly reminded them that no alternative remained but to conquer or die, and instantly led them to the charge. The Mexicans waited their approach with inflexible firmness; and notwithstanding the superiority of European discipline and arms, the Spaniards, though successful in every attack, were ready to sink under the repeated efforts of innumerable multitudes. But Cortez observ ing the great standard of the empire, which was carried before the Mexican general, and recollecting to have heard that on its fate the issue of every battle depended, put himself at the head of a few of his bravest officers, and pushed forward with an impetuosity that bore down all before it, to the place where he saw it displayed. Cortez having brought the Mexican general to the ground with a stroke of his lance, the select body of guards was broken, and the imperial standard was taken. The moment that the standard disappeared, the Mexicans were struck with an universal panic, and fled with precipitation to the mountains. The Spaniards, unable to pursue them, collected the spoils of the field, which were of such value, as to be some compensation for the wealth which they had lost in retreating out of Mexico. The day after the battle of Otumba, the Spaniards reached the territories of the Ilascalans, their allies, who being implacable enemies of the Mexican name, continued faithful to Cor * Robertson's Hist. of Amer. vol. 2. p. 95. tez in this reverse of his fortune. Here he had an interval of rest and tranquillity, that was extremely necessary for curing the wounded, and for recruiting the strength of his sol diers, exhausted by a long series of hardships and fatigues. During this suspension of military operations, Cortez recruited his battalions with 180 adventurers newly arrived from Spain and the islands, and obtained possession of some artillery and ammunition, which had been sent by Velasquez for the use of the army of Narvaez, and had been seized by the of ficer, whom Cortez had left in command at Vera Cruz. The Spanish general having received these reinforcements, resolved to recommence the war, and attempt the reduction of Mexico. But as he knew this to be impracticable, unless he could secure the command of the lake, he gave orders to prepare in the mountains of Ilascala materials for constructing twelve brigantines, which were to be carried thither in pieces, ready to be put together and launched when their service should be found necessary. This work, however, went on slowly, and was performed with great difficulty by the soldiers, among whom were only three or four carpenters. ces. On the 28th of December, 1520, Cortez began his second march towards Mexico, at the head of 550 Spanish foot, and 40 horse, with 10,000 Ilascalans, and a train of nine field pieThe Mexicans, however, were not unprepared for his reception. On the death of Montezuma, their nobility, in whom the right of electing the emperor appears to have been vested, had raised his brother, Quetlavaca, to the throne. This prince had displayed his courage and conduct in directing those attacks that obliged the Spaniards to retreat from his capital; and he took the most prudent and vigorous measures for preventing their return; but while he was arranging his plans of defence, with a degree of foresight, uncommon in an American, he died of the small-pox, a disorder unknown in that quarter of the globe until it was introduced by the Europeans. In his stead the Mexicans elected Guatimozin, nephew and son-in-law of Montezuma, a young prince of distin Robertson's Hist. of America, 4to. edit. vol. 2. p. 101. In another place, however, he states the number of brigantines at thirteen, vol. 2. P. 112. guished reputation for abilities and valour. Cortez having advanced to Tezeuco, a city situated near the lake of Mexico, and about twenty miles distant from that capital, was near seeing all his vast plans of conquest defeated by a dangerous conspiracy among his troops, many of whom, on a near view of the difficulties which they had to encounter in attacking a city of so difficult access as Mexico, had formed the design of assassinating him and his principal officers, and of confering the command on some other who would relinquish his despe rate projects. The conspiracy, however, being detected, and the mutinous spirit of the troops allayed by the consummate prudence and firmness of the general, the preparations for the attack of Mexico were carried on with unanimity and ardour. In the space of three months the materials for the construction of the brigantines were completed, and carried from the mountains of Ilascala to Tezeuco, on the lake of Mexico, a distance of above sixty miles, by 10,000 men, escorted by 15,000 Ilascalan warriors, and 215 Spaniards. A great number of Indians also were employed during the space of two months in widening the rivulet which ran from Tezeuco to the lake, and forming it into a navigable canal near two miles in length. About the same time the army received a rein. forcement of 200 Spanish soldiers, 80 horses, and two pieces of battering cannon, with a considerable supply of arms and ammunition, all which had been procured in Hispaniola by the agents of Cortez in that island. The brigantines were now put together and launched, and every preparation was made for the siege. The Spaniards were already posted at Tezeuco, and their first step was to take possession of Tacubo and Cuyocan, the cities which commanded the other two causeways. This they effected with little opposition. as the inhabitants had fled into Mexico, where the whole force of the nation was concentrated. The first effort of the Mexicans was to destroy the brigantines. But their numerous canoes were soon dispersed, and the Spaniards, after a great slaughter of the enemy, were left masters of the lake. The siege having continued a whole month, during which time, on land and on the water, one furious conflict had succeeded another, and many of the Spaniards being kill ed, more of them wounded, and all of them ready to sink under the pressure of unremitting fatigue, Cortez, in conside ration of these circumstances, resolved to make a grand effort to obtain possession of the city. In consequence of this resolution, a general attack was made by the three causeways. Cortez himself led the division which advanced by the causeway of Cuyocan, while the two others were commanded by Sandoval and Alvarado, two officers of distinguished bravery. The Spaniards pushed forward with an impetuosity that bore down all opposition, and incessantly gaining ground, forced their way over the canals and barricadoes into the city. Guatimozin now seeing the Spaniards within his capital, and observing that they had neglected to fill up the great breach in the causeway of Cuyocan, although Cortez had stationed an officer there for that purpose, commanded his troops to slacken their efforts, and to suffer the Spaniards to advance into the heart of the city, while he dis patched bands of select warriors by different ways to intercept their retreat. On a signal given by the emperor, the priests at the principal temple struck the great drum consecrated to the god of war. No sooner did the Mexicans hear the doleful solemn sound, calculated to inspire them with a contempt of death and an enthusiastic ardour, than they rushed on the enemy with frantic rage. The Spaniards were obliged to retire; and in the scene of confusion which ensued, six Mexican captains having seized on Cortez, were carrying him off, when two of his officers rescued him at the expense of their own lives, but not till after he had received several dangerous wounds. Above 60 Spaniards perished in this second retreat out of Mexico; and what added to their misfortune, forty of these fell alive into the hands of an enemy that was never known to shew mercy to a captive. These unfortunate men were dragged in triumph to the temple, and sacrificed to the god of war. After this dreadful disaster, Cortez changed his mode of attack, and instead of attempting to become master of the city at one single stroke, contented himself with making gradual approaches. The three divisions recommenced the attack, but proceeded with great circumspection. As the Spaniards advan |