The battle roll: an encyclopedia containing descriptions of the most famous and memorable land battles and sieges in all ages . sides upon the Spaniards. Cortez nowdetermined to make a decisive sortie. Ageneral discharge of artillery and musketryopened a bloody gap in the midst of the ene-my, and before they could reorganize thegates were opened, and the Spanish cavalry,supported by a large body of Tlascalan war-riors, rushed out, and charged down uponthe Mexicans at fuU gallop. Little expectingsuch an attack, the Mexicans were throwninto the utmost confusion and made but Ut-tle resistance. On
The battle roll: an encyclopedia containing descriptions of the most famous and memorable land battles and sieges in all ages . sides upon the Spaniards. Cortez nowdetermined to make a decisive sortie. Ageneral discharge of artillery and musketryopened a bloody gap in the midst of the ene-my, and before they could reorganize thegates were opened, and the Spanish cavalry,supported by a large body of Tlascalan war-riors, rushed out, and charged down uponthe Mexicans at fuU gallop. Little expectingsuch an attack, the Mexicans were throwninto the utmost confusion and made but Ut-tle resistance. On through the masses of theenemy the Spanish cavahy plowed its way,strewing the plain with corses. The enemyfled in aU directions. The Tlascalan infantryfollowed up the attack of the cavalry withthe utmost vigor, and the ilexicans were forthe time being entirely routed. But soonthey arrived at a breastwork of timber,which they had thrown across the principalstreet. Behind this they ralUed, and repliedto the frequent charges of the enemy byclouds of arrows and stones, which checkedtheir further progress and threw them into. MEXICO. 369 disorder. But now Cortez ordered up liiaheavy artillery, and having placed it in po-sition, opened a fire upon the enemys workwhich in a short time swept it away, andcleared a passage for his army. But theMexicans kept their ground with surprisingobstinacy. In vain did the Spanish horsecharge down upon them; they were drivenback, and being also attacked in flank byfi-esh battahons of the enemy wliich came infrom adjoining lanes and streets, victoryseemed hung in a balance. Attacked in front,rear, and flank by swarms of an enemywhom hatred had inspired with a desire forvengeance, which nothing but the accom-plishment could quench, the Spaniards foughtwith the sullen ferocity of despair. Shoulderto shoulder they battled against the humantide. Cortez exhorted them not to separate;but in spite of their efforts several were di-vided from their companion
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectbattles, bookyear1858
