Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican, Vol. 1 of 2: A Historical, Geographical, Political, Statistical and Social Account of That Country From the Period of the Invasion by the Spaniards to the Present Time.Mayer, Brantz
History
Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican, Vol. 1 of 2: A Historical, Geographical, Political, Statistical and Social Account of That Country From the Period of the Invasion by the Spaniards to the Present Time.
Fajardo once more despatched Juan Barraza, with three hundred Spanish
soldiers and some Indians against the rebel Tarahumares. But the tribe
had, in its intercourse with the foreigners, acquired some little
knowledge of the art of war and consequently did not await the
expected attack in the open or level fields, where the Spanish cavalry
could act powerfully against them. They retired, accordingly, to a
rocky pass, flanked by two streams, which they fortified, at all
points, with stone walls and other formidable impediments. Here they
rested in security until the Spanish forces approached them; nor did
they, even then abandon their defensive warfare. Barraza, finding the
Indians thus skilfully entrenched behind barriers and ready to repel
his attack, was unable, after numerous efforts, to dislodge them from
their position. Indeed, he appears to have suffered serious losses in
his vain assaults; so that, instead of routing the natives entirely,
he found it necessary to withdraw his troops who were greatly weakened
by losses, whilst the daring insurgents continually received auxiliary
reinforcements. In this untoward state of affairs, Barraza resolved to
make his escape, during the night, from such dangerous quarters, and,
ordering his Indian allies to light the usual watch-fires, and keep up
the ordinary bustle of a camp, he silently but gradually withdrew all
his Spanish and native forces, so that at daybreak the Tarahumares
found the country cleared of their foes.
As soon as Fajardo heard of the forced retreat of Barraza he
determined to take the management of the campaign in his own hands.
But his military efforts were as unsuccessful as those of his
unfortunate captain. The rainy season came on before he could make a
successful lodgement in the heart of the enemy's country, and his
march was impeded by floods which destroyed the roads and rendered the
streams impassable. Accordingly he retired to Parral, where he
received orders from the viceroy to establish a garrison in Papigochi.
The Spaniards found that their cruelty in the first campaign against
these untamed savages had inflamed their minds against the viceroyal
troops. They attempted, therefore, to use, once more, the language of
persuasion, and, offering the insurgents a perfect amnesty for the
past, prevailed upon the old inhabitants of the vale of Papigochi to
return to their former residences, where, however, they did not long
remain faithful to their promised allegiance. The new garrison was
established, as had been commanded by the viceroy; but, in 1652, the
relentless tribes, again seizing an unguarded moment, burned the
barracks, and destroyed in the flames a number of Spaniards, two
Franciscan monks, and a Jesuit priest. The soldiery of Barraza and the
governor retired from the doomed spot, amid showers of Indian arrows.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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