Desertion and Justice on the 1559 Luna Expedition to la Florida
Among the ranks in an army, many crimes are to be expected as soldiers are but human. Certain indiscretions or crimes would afford different punishments; but the one crime—that of desertion—was considered one of the most heinous crimes a soldier could commit, especially on an important expedition for the Crown. The punishment for desertion was death and was generally carried out very quickly. It kept discipline within an army.