Three hundred of the men were told off to man the ships.
The Indian confederates arrived punctually: fifty thousand Tlascalans, and a vast number of levies from the other tribes.
The army was divided into three corps.

One was to take up its post, under Alvarado, at Tlacopan.

Another, under Olid, was to aid in capturing the causeway; while Sandoval had command of the third, whose movements were to be determined by circumstances.

Cortez himself took charge of the fleet.
A quarrel arose between a Spanish soldier and a Tlascalan chief, who was a relation of Xicotencatl; who at once left the army, and started for Tlascala.

He had always been bitterly hostile to the Spaniards; and Cortez saw that, unless the movement was stopped, it might become very serious.