|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aztec army might remain militarily undefeated but be vanquished logistically. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some of these problems lessened during the course of a campaign as the number of men involved declined. Combat casualties aside, large numbers of men are normally lost on marches; although there are no direct data on this point for the Aztecs, comparative data are instructive. In 1812 Napoleon lost one-third of his forces to sickness and straggling on a 52-day march of 350 miles (an average of less than 7 miles per day), and Blücher lost 40 percent in eight weeks.
64 The Aztec attrition rate was probably highest among auxiliary troops and those from cities beyond the basin of Mexico, where the motivation to fight was presumably lowest. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Camps resupplied, fed, and reinforced the combatants and offered a sanctuary to which they could retire after the battle. Thus, they were set up even when the battle was near Tenochtitlan, since they performed functions that had to be carried out closer at hand than was possible from the home city if the battle was expected to be of any duration.65 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The armies were strung out on the trail, so not everyone arrived at once. The military orders arrived first and formed a guard to protect the others against attack. On reaching the target area, the Aztecs and their allies set up camp. The camps of the allied towns were located to each side of the Aztec contingent.66 However, the structure of the Aztec camp was not consistent. In most cases the Aztec army and allies encamped as a single entity, but on other occasions, they were divided.67 As the troops continued to arrive over several days, the camps grew.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immediately upon arrival the king's residence was constructed, and his insignia was placed atop it. Around the king's residence were placed those of the other nobles, so they could reinforce him in the event of a surprise attack.69 Among the first structures to go up after the king's were the fortifications and the great tent where the nobles' arms and war supplies were stored.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The cuahchic and otomitl military orders camped in front of everyone else,71 followed by camps of the army leaders.72 Each encamped unit was responsible for organizing its own people, camp- |
|
|
|
|
|