Mendoza then pushed forward over the Cerro Gordo. The natives of Acatic and of the valley of Zapotlan having surrendered without serious resistance, the forces of Oñate and Mendoza effected a junction and marched against Nochistlan. The place was defended by a large army under Tenamaxtli, whose Christian name was Don Diego Zacatecas. In the first attack two of the seven lines of defensive works were carried, and the rest, except the last and strongest, were battered down by the artillery after a siege of several days. The besieged at last proposed a suspension of hostilities and an attack on Mixton, promising to surrender when that fortress should fall. These terms were of course refused, and by a final assault the last defences were carried. The Spanish flag was planted by Captain Muncibay on the summit, and those of the defenders who had not escaped with their leader to Mixton, yielded. The prisoners were condemned to slavery by Mendoza; but Ibarra, who was the encomendero of the district, fearing its depopulation and the ruin of his property interests, allowed them to escape.[1]
The Spanish forces then marched to Juchipila and found that all the natives had taken refuge on the Mixton, which was the strongest of all the rebel
- ↑ The Spaniards were 15 days bombarding the place without results. The population was 60,000; 2,000 were killed and 1,000 enslaved. Mota Padilla, Conq. N. Gal., 146-7; Tello, Hist. N. Gal., i. 422-5. They fought from eight A.M. to four P.M., when the place was taken after considerable loss. The battle occurred November 12th, and four Spaniards were killed. Acazitli, Rel., 312; Mendoza, Visita, 114. Number of Spaniards 1,000; auxiliaries 60,000 to 70,000. Navarrete, Hist. Jal., 80-2. There were 6,000 killed, and 10,000 enslaved, but subsequently released by Ibarra. Beaumont, Crón. Mich., iv. 398. Frejes, Hist. Breve., 154, speaks of a twenty days' siege; 6,000 killed; 1,000 slaves; the natives surrendered for want of water and owing to the defection of a cacique. The Spanish soldiers were exceedingly loath to relinquish the slaves, but Mendoza seems to have approved of Ibarra's act. Tello and Mota Padilla say the people of Nochistlan were allowed to escape before the final surrender and not after their capture.
slaves were made. In Mendoza, Visita, Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 112-14, it appears that 248 slaves were made and distributed among the auxiliaries. Tello affirms that 4,000, besides women and children, killed themselves; 2.000 were killed by Spaniards, and 2,000 slaves taken. Acazitli calls this the battle of Tototlan, and represents it as having been fought Oct. 26, 1541.
