Hurrying to the gates by the first light of day, I could see that the Spaniards were mustering their forces for attack.

They did not come at once, however, but delayed till the sun was well up.

Then they began to pour a furious fire upon our defences, that reduced the shattered beams of the gates to powder, and even shook down the crest of the earthwork beyond them.
Suddenly the firing ceased and again a trumpet called.

Now they charged us in column, a thousand or more Tlascalans leading the van, followed by the Spanish force.

In two minutes I, who awaited them beyond it together with some three hundred warriors of the Otomie, saw their heads appear over the crest of the earthwork, and the fight began.