Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/563

Rh Finally the Spaniards were repulsed from the city; and during their retreat, which lasted for several days, they (Spaniards) met with great loss of men and arms, and completed their retreat on the tenth day of July, 1520, at midnight, which the Spaniards in Mexico call the doleful night to this day, and the Mexicans celebrate it every year as a day of feast and jubilee.

Fernando Cortez, with his routed army, retreated to his sure friends of Tlascallia (a class of people who lived free among themselves, refusing to be subject to the king of Mexico, with whom they were continually at war); and when Cortez had conquered the Tlascallians they made friends with the Spaniards, and afterward assisted Cortez to conquer the kingdom of Montezuma, without whose help he surely could never have conquered the Mexicans.

King Cutlahua, the successor of Montezuma, reigned but a short time when he died of small-pox, which disease was brought into Mexico by the Spaniards.

Guatamzin, Montezuma's son-in-law, chief of the Mexican army, a brave, gallant, and popular officer among his people, was chosen king or emperor of Mexico.

Fernando Cortez, while encamped at Tlascallia, went to work and recruited and strengthened his army to over two hundred thousand strong—Spaniards, Tlascallians, and other hostile tribes. The Spaniards were well armed with firearms, and the Tlascallians, who were friendly to the Spaniards and hostile to the kingdom of Montezuma, were armed with bows, arrows, and lancers.

After everything was ready, Cortez marched his large army towards the city of Mexico; arrived in the valley in the middle of May, 1521, with the determination to take the city, cost what it will; made a bold and daring attack on it both by .—Some of our historical writers have it that the retreat was on July. This must be a mistake, as King Montezuma did not die until June, and it was several days afterwards before the Mexicans made the attack on the Spaniards. (Am I right?)