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The Infamous Raid On Columbus

"Viva Villa!" and "Viva Mexico!" shouted the
raiders over the sound of gunshots as they
stormed the sleeping town of Columbus, N. M., on
March 9, 1916. At 4 a.m., forces of Mexican
revolutionary General Pancho Villa attacked the
unsuspecting 400 citizens.
Entering Columbus from the Mexican town of
Palomas, they pillaged and burned the bank,
stores and other properties after looting
ammunition, guns, and other supplies. This was
Villa's second strike against the United States
since it had recognized Venustiano Carranza as
the Mexican leader instead of Villa.
This raid by the disgruntled revolutionary
brought about the Punitive Expedition which later
influenced battle strategies of World War I.
After an American-supported defeat at Agua
Prieta, Villa swore revenge on Americans. In
January 1916, Villa's men executed 16 American
mining engineers on their way to a mine near
Santa Isabel in Chihuahua. In El Paso, Gen.
Pershing declared martial law and Fort Bliss
soldiers remained on alert, ready for Villa.
The tiny town of Columbus, however, did not
suspect its residents could become victims, and
Villa completely surprised them. Leon Metz writes
that the villistas rode in wearing sombreros,
khaki-colored uniforms and crisscross
bullet-filled bandoleers on their chests.
On March 8, 1916, Villa had sent two officers to
scout the town and nearby garrison. The next day
his men went around a hill next to Camp Furlong,
an American army cantonment with troops under the
command of Lt. Ralph Lucas. There, Villa's men
divided into two groups. One attacked the
garrison, while the other attacked the town.