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$Unique_ID{bob00742}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{History Of The Conquest Of Peru
Chapter VI: Part II}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Prescott, William H.}
$Affiliation{}
$Subject{de
en
castro
vaca
cap
del
el
ms
almagro
footnote}
$Date{1864}
$Log{}
Title: History Of The Conquest Of Peru
Book: Book IV: Civil Wars Of The Conquerors
Author: Prescott, William H.
Date: 1864
Chapter VI: Part II
Carbajal notices the politic manner in which his commander bribed
recruits into his service, - paying them with promises and fair words when
ready money failed him. "Dando a unos dineros, e a otros armas i
caballos, i a otros palabras, i a otros promesas, i a otros graziosas
respuestas de lo que con el negoziaban para tenerlos a todos muy
conttentos i presttos en el servicio de S. M. quando fuese menestter."
Dicho del Capitan Francisco de Carbajal sobre la informacion hecha en el
Cuzco en 1543, favor de Vaca de Castro, Ms.]
The reader, familiar with the large masses employed in European
warfare, may smile at the paltry forces of the Spaniards. But in the New
World, where a countless host of natives went for little, five hundred
well-trained Europeans were regarded as a formidable body. No army, up to
the period before us, had ever risen to a thousand. Yet it is not
numbers, as I have already been led to remark, that give importance to a
conflict; but the consequences that depend on it, - the magnitude of the
stake, and the skill and courage of the players. The more limited the
means, even, the greater may be the science shown in the use of them;
until, forgetting the poverty of the materials, we fix our attention on
the conduct of the actors, and the greatness of the results.
While at Xauxa, Vaca de Castro received an embassy from Gonzalo
Pizarro, returned from his expedition from the "Land of Cinnamon," in
which that chief made an offer of his services in the approaching contest.
The governor's answer showed that he was not wholly averse to an
accommodation with Almagro, provided it could be effected without
compromising the royal authority. He was willing, perhaps, to avoid the
final trial by battle, when he considered, that, from the equality of the
contending forces, the issue must be extremely doubtful. He knew that the
presence of Pizarro in the camp, the detested enemy of the Almagrians,
would excite distrust in their bosoms that would probably baffle every
effort at accommodation. Nor is it likely that the governor cared to have
so restless a spirit introduced into his own councils. He accordingly
sent to Gonzalo, thanking him for the promptness of his support, but
courteously declined it, while he advised him to remain in his province,
and repose after the fatigues of his wearisome expedition. At the same
time, he assured him that he would not fail to call for his services when
occasion required it. - The haughty cavalier was greatly disgusted by the
repulse. ^15
[Footnote 15: Zarate, Conq. del Peru, lib. 4, cap. 15.]
The governor now received such an account of Almagro's movements as
led him to suppose that he was preparing to occupy Guamanga, a fortified
place of considerable strength, about thirty leagues from Xauxa. ^16
Anxious to secure this post, he broke up his encampment, and by forced
marches, conducted in so irregular a manner as must have placed him in
great danger if his enemy had been near to profit by it, he succeeded in
anticipating Almagro, and threw himself into the place while his
antagonist was at Bilcas, some ten leagues distant.
[Footnote 16: Cieza de Leon, Cronica, cap. 85.]
At Guamanga, Vaca de Castro received another embassy from Almagro, of
similar import with the former. The young chief again deprecated the
existence of hostilities between brethren of the same family, and proposed
an accommodation of the quarrel on the same basis as before. To these
proposals the governor now condescended to reply. It might be thought,
from his answer, that he felt some compassion for the youth and
inexperience of Almagro, and that he was willing to distinguish between
him and the principal conspirators, provided he could detach him from
their interests. But it is more probable that he intended only to amuse
his enemy by a show of negotiation, while he gained time for tampering
with the fidelity of his troops.
He insisted that Almagro should deliver up to him all those
immediately implicated in the death of Pizarro, and should then disband
his forces. On these conditions the government would pass over his
treasonable practices, and he should be reinstated in the royal favor.
Together with this mission, Vaca de Castro, it is reported, sent a
Spaniard, disguised as an Indian, who was instructed to communicate with
certain officers in Almagro's camp, and prevail on them, if possible, to
abandon his cause and return to their allegiance. Unfortunately, the
disguise of the emissary was detected. He was seized, put to the torture,
and, having confessed the whole of the transaction, was hanged as a spy.
Almagro laid the proceeding before his captains. The terms proffered
by the governor were such as no man with a particle of honor in his nature
could entertain for a moment; and Almagro's indignation, as well as that
of his companions, was heightened by the duplicity of their enemy, who
could practise such insidious arts, while ostensibly engaged in a fair and
open negotiation. Fearful, perhaps, lest the tempting offers of their
antagonist might yet prevail over the constancy of some of the weaker
spirits among them, they demanded that all negotiation should be broken
off, and that they should be led at once against the enemy. ^17
[Footnote 17: Dicho del Capitan Francisco de Carbajal sobre la informacion
hecha en el Cuzco en 1543, a favor de Vaca de Castro, Ms. - Zarate, Conq
del Peru, lib. 4, cap. 16. - Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 7, lib. 3, cap.
8. - Carta de Ventura Beltran, Ms. - Gomara, Hist. de las Ind., cap. 149]
The governor, meanwhile, finding the broken country around Guamanga
unfavorable for his cavalry, on which he mainly relied, drew off his
forces to the neighbouring lowlands, known as the Plains of Chupas. It
was the tempestuous season of the year, and for several days the storm
raged wildly among the hills, and, sweeping along their sides into the
valley, poured down rain, sleet, and snow on the miserable bivouacs of the
soldiers, till they were drenched to the skin and nearly stiffened by the
cold. ^18 At length, on the sixteenth of September, 1542, the scouts
brought in tidings that Almagro's troops were advancing, with the
intention, apparently, of occupying the highlands around Chupas. The war
of the elements had at last subsided, and was succeeded by one of those
brilliant days which are found only in the tropics. The royal camp was
early in motion, as Vaca de Castro, desirous to secure the heights that
commanded the valley, detached a body of arquebusiers on that service,
supported by a corps of cavalry, which he soon followed with the rest of
the forces. On reaching the eminence, news was brought that the enemy had
come to a halt, and established himself in a strong position at less than
a league's distance.
[Footnote 18: "Tuvieron tan gran tempestad de agua, Truenos, i Nieve, que
pensaron perecer; i amaneciendo con dia claro, i sereno" Herrera, Hist.
General, dec. 7, lib. 3, cap. 8.]
It was now late in the afternoon, and the sun was not more than two
hours above the horizon. The governor hesitated to begin the action when
they must so soon be overtaken by night. But Alonso de Alvarado assured
him that "now was the time, for the spirits of his men were hot for fight,
and it was better to take the benefit of it than to damp their ardor by
delay." The governor acquiesced, exclaiming at the same time, - "O for the
might of Joshua, to stay the sun in his course!" ^19 He then drew up his
little army in order of battle, and made his dispositions for the attack.
[Footnote 19: "Yasi Vaca de Cas