NOW approached that fateful Saturday[125] on which the battle was fought. All the heights of Chupas, and their steep slopes, were crowded with the natives of those regions, some following the Almagro faction2, some the party of Pachacama. In both camps there were many pallas,[126] natives of Cuzco much beloved by the Spaniards, whose feeling they reciprocated3, delighting to dwell in the[271] service of such doughty4 men and to act as proxies5 for their lawful6 wives in Spain. When they saw the last day of the war at hand they foresaw the death that must befall their lovers and wandered, wailing7 and dishevelled, according to the custom of the country, from place to place. The Indians made such a clamour that it was heard over the valleys and heights of Chupas and their yells were re-echoed beyond in the gorges8 of the Andes, so that these same Indians were frightened at the sound of their own voices. But they were delighted at seeing the spectacle of Spaniards fighting against each other without having any reasonable quarrel, and gave thanks to the Sun for the glorious revenge about to be taken for the ills that had been inflicted9 on their elders.
As the enemies were now drawing near together the men of Chile pitched their camp, with the intention of striking the tents during the second night watch and marching, if possible, into Guamanga, and thence by the Guaytara road on to Lima.
At this juncture10 the forces of Vaca de Castro were encamped in the valley of Chupas,[127] and to reach the summit of the spur there was more than a league of ascent11.[128] The scouts12 sent out by Vaca de Castro had got so far as to see the camp of Don Diego, and, after a spirited discussion with other scouts of their party, returned to report that Don Diego was nearing the summit of the hills. When Vaca de Castro heard this, he ordered captain Pedro de Castro, with a hundred Spanish arquebusiers, to set out at once for the summit, and try to get there before the enemy could occupy it. Captain Castro immediately departed on this service, followed by Captain Pedro Anzures with his troop of lancers as a rear-guard.
[272]
Using all possible speed, Castro reached the heights where he posted his company, Anzures following him closely. Soon they descried13 the scouts of Don Diego coming out from the camp to see what was going on and whether the enemy had pitched his camp or was making for the height. Seeing the arquebusiers there, it was clear to them that these were already in possession, and after some words had passed between them, such as are customary under such circumstances, they returned to the camp. Meanwhile, Vaca de Castro and his captains set out, in the best order they could, to join the soldiers who were in his camp and on the height. Moving as rapidly as possible, they arrived a little after the hour of vespers. Here there presently assembled Vaca de Castro and the captains
Pero Alvarez Holguin
Alonso de Alvarado
Garcilaso de la Vega
Pedro Anzures
Diego de Rojas
Francisco de Caravajal
(Sergeant Major)
with other cavaliers and principal persons. They held a consultation14 to decide on what they should do, and whether it would be more prudent15 to give battle to the enemy on the following day, or to wait until it was seen what Don Diego de Almagro would do. There were differences of opinion among the gathering16. Some, for reasons they gave, said that they ought not to give battle until they understood the enemy's intentions. Others said that they should leave the present position, and occupy one nearer the enemy, and that the choice of it would be in their own hands. Others also advised that the encounter should not be put off until later than the next morning at daybreak; because, at such times, a lost opportunity is not readily regained17, and quickness and suddenness of attack count for much, whilst to delay is to court disaster. Alonso de Alvarado was of this opinion, and told Vaca de Castro[273] that, without further ado, the battle should be joined on the coming morn, for the soldiers were ready and eager and the first shock of a conflict is steady and forceful, because the heated blood courses through the body and gives strength to the men. If that flush of vigour18 wavers or cools down, their minds are apt to become more timorous19 than bold and they lose their steadiness. To this and other things, Vaca de Castro answered: "Is your brain good?"[129] and he proceeded to reply to what had been said. Finally it was resolved by all to give battle, and again they turned to encourage the men, urging that they fought for the honour of the King, and that they must display all the valour that was in them, with other exhortations20.
Don Diego and his captains did not sleep during this time; on the contrary, they were thinking over further topics before deciding what they should do. They saw that they could not now, with the enemy so near, get into Guamanga without difficulty, and that it would be better to put that scheme aside and give battle; so, after commending themselves to God, they resolved to fight. Don Diego, seeing that the battle was inevitable21, mounted his horse, with his lance in his hand, and, turning to the soldiers, addressed them thus: "Oh captains, to whom I owe so much, and soldiers so valorous! the battle must be fought, for the enemy is at hand. Bear in mind that to-day is the day when fortune promises us the government of the country, with full vengeance22 on our enemies and the best repartimientos for yourselves, so do not fail to smite23 those who have shown themselves to be our enemies. You know that neither has it been my desire nor yours to do anything contrary to the service of the King, and that in the end it will rest with your arms to condemn24 the loser[274] as a tyrant25, and the conqueror26 will be held to be loyal." Saying these words and others, he exhorted27 his friends to prepare for the battle they had to fight.
(click on image to enlarge)
THE COUNTRY around GUAMANGA
(click on image to enlarge)
SITE of the BATTLE OF CHUPAS 1542
Hakluyt Society: Series II, vol. 42
Description of the country around the battle field of Chupas.
By C. R. M.
The position of the battle of Chupas is interesting. Prescott and Helps had not a true idea of it. Prescott wrote of "the bloody28 plains of Chupas," and "the neighbouring lowlands known as the plains of Chupas": Helps as "the valley of Chupas." These are quite wrong terms for the place. Chupas is neither a plain nor a valley, but a farm on a lofty Andean spur.
The city of Guamanga (now called Ayacucho) is in 13° 8′ S. Lat., 72° 2′ W. Long., and 8660 feet above the sea. There is a small plain outside the town to north-west, called the Pampa del Arco, but the battle field was miles away, on the other side.
Guamanga is at the western base of the great maritime29 cordillera, its slopes descending30 in long spurs, with intervening ravines, to the city and its neighbourhood. The scene of the battle was high up, 9,500 feet above the sea, extending over two of these spurs and the ravine between them.
The road from Guamanga to Yca across the maritime cordillera, leaves the city along a pretty avenue, and then up the hill of Carmenca and the steeper ascent of Quica-pata.[130] Half way up this ascent a path turns off to the left, skirting along the spurs of the cordillera, and after two miles the ravine of Lambras-huayccu[131] is reached. Here, on the spur, Vaca de Castro formed his first camp. The stream below supplies Guamanga with water. In the upper part of the ravine there is a swamp during part of the year. Its width is about half a mile, more in some parts, wide enough for cavalry31 charges. On its further side the ascent is steep, and on this spur the artillery32 of Almagro was posted, near what is now the farm house of Chupas. All this country is now covered with wheat fields. Guamanga would be easily reached by following the Lambras-huayccu stream. Lying 9,500 feet above the sea, Chupas is exposed to storms of snow in the winter and early spring. Beyond Chupas, on another spur, is the farm of my old friend Don Manuel Tello, called Cochabamba. The view towards the cordillera is very grand. The sides of some of the gorges form perpendicular33 precipices34, above which rise the snowy peaks. Beyond Cochabamba is the wheat farm of another of my old friends called cojo Arias35;[132] and further on is the village of Chiara, whence the road leads by Sachapampa and Pomacocha, to Vilcas. This was the route taken by Almagro's army from Vilcas, after crossing the lofty ridge36 of Cangallo. Guamanga is now usually written Huamanga.
[275]
Cojo Arias told me that bones and a spur had been found on his estate; also that Alonso de Alvarado brought some Indians of Chachapoyas with him and that, for services in the battle, they were granted land with freedom from tribute, and that they founded the village of Chiara. The wheat farm of Chupas belonged to Don Basilio Guillen.
My visit to the battle field of Chupas was on 26 February 1853.
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exhorting
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的现在分词 ) | |
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faction
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| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
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reciprocated
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| v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的过去式和过去分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动 | |
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doughty
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| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
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proxies
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| n.代表权( proxy的名词复数 )；（测算用的）代替物；（对代理人的）委托书；（英国国教教区献给主教等的）巡游费 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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maritime
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| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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arias
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| n.咏叹调( aria的名词复数 ) | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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