Tapia and a brother of Alvarado commanded one of the other columns, while Cortez led the third.

A small body of cavalry, with three guns, remained in reserve in the great street leading to the causeway; and here the column were to rally, in case of disaster.
The three columns advanced simultaneously.

The Spanish pressed the Aztecs back before them.

Their allies filled up the canals as they took them, one by one.

The Tlascalans stormed the houses, and attacked the enemy on their roofs; while the canoes engaged those of the Aztecs, and so prevented them from interfering with the men occupied in filling up the breaches.