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nydus/The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 2 (of 2)Public

Bernal Díaz del Castillo chronicles the military expedition led by Hernán Cortés against the city of Tezcuco in late 1520. This account details the mobilization of Spanish forces and Tlascallan allies, as well as the tactical challenges encountered while navigating mountain passes during the march toward Mexico.

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER CL.

kept calling upon the Tlascallans to come with double their numbers next time, and they would very soon settle their impudence. Our first deeds of arms, therefore, merely consisted in destroying the aqueduct of Chapultepec, and in reconnoitring the lake along the causeway, in which we did not exactly reap much honour.

For the rest, we passed the following night very quietly in our quarters, posted our sentinels, and dressed our wounds. One of our horses was so severely wounded that it died soon after.

The following morning Oli determined upon taking up the position assigned to his division at Cojohuacan, about six miles further on; and however Alvarado and the other cavaliers might beg of him not to separate the two divisions, yet he would not alter his determination. Christobal de Oli was a man of uncommon bravery, whose pride was wounded at the unsuccessful attempt we had made upon the causeway, and he accused Alvarado of inconsiderateness for having ordered the attack. Nothing, therefore, could induce him to stay, and he

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