Diaz Recounts: The How and Why of the Scuttling of Ships, Veracruz, summer 1519

There were a number of disagreements and contrary views expressed within the european camp since they first made land in Cozumel. There were disagreements about food and the selling of found gold for food and at one point, Cortes had agreed that those who wanted to leave could do so. But at a certain point, Cortes had decided that some of them were acting in open rebellion to his command and must be punished for it. Some were executed and others suffered other deforming penalties, and then Cortes felt it necessary to make a return impossible for those who could not be otherwise dissuaded.  This all happened, according to Diaz, before they set off farther inland and over the mtns to Tlaxcala.

On the way to Cingapacinga, Diaz tells us, Cortes sent messengers to order some of the men left back at Vera Cruz, with the boats, to come and aid their compatriots. On advice of the new friends from Cempoala, the lead group of Cortes with '400 men, fourteen horsemen and crossbowmen' had gone to resolve the issues between the Cempoala and Cingapacingans.

When the messengers arrived, some back at camp had decided they were leaving and returning to their own farms in Cuba. They 'haughtily' complained that, they had lost already, that setting out was enough, and that Cortes had promised them 'on the sandy beaches' that they could return if they wanted to. Of course he had.

"... seven soldiers were ready to return to Cuba. When Cortes learned this, he sent for them, and when he asked why they were doing such an ugly thing, they replied somewhat angrily that they were amazed that with so few soldiers he wanted to settle where there were known to be thousands of Indians and large settlements, that they were sick and fed up with going from place to place, and they wanted to return to Cuba to their homes and estates. They told him he should give them permission immediately, as he had promised. Cortes replied gently that it was true he promised what they said, but they were not doing the right thing in deserting the flag of their captain. He then ordered them to embark without delay, and he indicated a ship and ordered that they be given cassava, a jar of oil, and other vegetables and provisions...." [pp. 89-90]

But then, of course, some of the men, says Diaz, including alcaldes and regidores went to Cortes to demand that no one be allowed to leave this country for,

"... what was required for the service of Our Lord God and His Majesty, and anyone who requested such permission deserved the penalty of death according to the laws of the military, because such a man would be leaving his captain and flag abandoned in war and danger.... Cortes acted as though he wanted to give permission, but in the end he revoked it; they were left cheated and even put to shame."

This all happened in chapter l (50) of Diaz.
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Later, after returning from Cingapacinga and Cempoala and after word from Spain was received, after the new town was founded and officials appointed, and four days after the letters sent with the representatives to Spain, some were still 'poorly disposed toward Cortes'. Some because he would not let them leave, some because he did not give them share of the gold that had gone to Spain and some, were still upset for the beatings they got for stealing salt pork on Cozumel. Some of them had loaded a small ship and loaded it with provisions and were set on leaving to try to intercept the ship full of gold, to tell Velazquez of Cortes' intentions upon their return to Cuba. But the night before, one of their number, Bernardino de Coria, 'seems to have repented', says Diaz, and informed Cortes.
Cortes ordered that the sails, compass and rudder be removed from the ship and that those men be taken prisoner and confess to him. They did and 'denounced others who were with us', though Cortes 'concealed this, because of the conditions, which permitted nothing else'. [p. 103]

"By judicial sentence he ordered that Pedro Escudero and Juan Cermeño be hanged, the feet of the pilot Gonzalo de Umbria be cut off, the sailors Penates whipped, each two hundred lashes..."

and apparently, 'inspred some fear' in Father Juan Diaz, as well. The report of Diaz on this matter closes with the image of Cortes signing the death warrants with sighs and lamentations wishing that he could not write, rather than have to sign for the death of men. Then they returned to Cempoala. Diaz also points out that Pedro de Alvarado was not present 'to see this justice done'.

This happened [pp. 103-4] in chapter lvii (57) of Diaz.

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It was in Cempoala, Diaz says, that many men came to Cortes and asked him to scuttle the ships so that no one might be tempted to rise up as had happened in the past. This would also, they argued, free up all the sailors and pilots, about a hundred men to go with them westward. Diaz plainly states that Cortes had already decided this but wanted the idea to come from the men, so if he were sued for the destruction of the ships, then the cost would come from all the men and not just him. The men were making a compact with Cortes, so that if they failed, they all would pay, even for the destruction of ships that brought them there. Cortes seems quite the master manipulator, cutting off all means of escape and requiring 'conspirators' to also pay if they all ended in failure. These are still tactics used in abusive and unequal relationships.

One Juan de Escalante, chief constable was sent to the port with the ships to ensure 'all anchors, cables, sails... and anything useful' be taken and removed from the ships and put under guard. He also was to bring the sailros and pilots who could fight inland, leaving the rest to guard the town in the event that more soldiers came from Cuba and, to fish. When Escalante arrived, Cortes introduced him to the local chieftains in Cempoala and told them, 'This is my brother'. They should help build the town of Veracruz and do whatever Escalante asked them to and if they needed help, he would come and help them personally. Here, again, Diaz counters what Gomara had told in his account. This is how Diaz ends his chapter lviii (58).

After this, in chapter lix, still in Cempoala, Cortes gives the men a 'good talk', explaining they no longer had anything to depend on to keep them going farther, but each other, and their faith in God. That this place here was like the Rubicon that Caesar hesitated before crossing, knowing that now there was no turning back. [p.106]

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All quotes from Bernal Díaz de Castillo: The True History of the Conquest of New Spain translated with an introduction and notes by Janet Burke and Ted Humphrey, Indianapolis, Hackett Publishing Co, Inc. 2012