In Memory of Thirteenth Cavalry - Columbus, NM
Posted by: 
leadhiker
N 31° 49.676 W 107° 38.397
13R E 250138 N 3524400
Soldiers Killed during the Pancho Villa Raid March 9, 1916
Pvt. Thomas F. Butler - Sgt. John G. Nievergelt
Sgt. Mark A. Dobbs - Cpl. Paul Simon
Pvt. Fred A. Griffin - Pvt. Jessie P. Taylor
Pvt. Frank T. Kindval - Cpl. Harry E. Wiswell
Waymark Code: WMBRBX
Location: New Mexico, United States
Date Posted: 06/16/2011
Views: 2
Led by General Francisco (Pancho) Villa, insurgent Mexican forces on the night of March 9, 1916 raided camp Furlong a United States army cantonment, and the nearby town of Columbus. Several people were killed, many others were wounded and numerous buildings and tents were burned. The underlying motive of the raid is still a dispute among survivors and historian.
Six days later United States punitive forces under General John J. (Black Jack) Pershing entered Mexico and pursued Pancho Villa and his band without success.
Much speculation abounds concerning General Villa's motivation behind the Columbus raid. One theory suggests it was an act of retaliation. Embroiled in a civil war, Mexico searched for leadership. A dispute broke out between Pancho Villa and Venustiano Carranza when Villa refused to acknowledge the authority of the new president, Carranza. To add insult to injury, President Wilson aided Carranza by allowing Mexican troops to be transported on the El Paso- Southwestern Railroad through Texas and New Mexico to a campaign in Mexico. These additional troops helped defeat Villa and his army in the battle of Agua Prieta, across from Douglas, Arizona on November 1, 1915. Possibly the attack on Columbus occurred as retaliation for the shipment of troops, since the village had an El Paso - Southwestern depot. Amazingly enough however, the depot only sustained light damage from flying bullets.
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Type of memorial: Plaque
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