The Pancho Villa Expedition: The History of the U.S. Army’s Attempt to Capture Mexico’s Most Famous Revolutionary

“Pancho Villa,” people whispered at the beginning of the 20th century, 'can march 100 miles without stopping, live 100 days without food, go 100 nights without sleep, and kill 100 men without remorse.' The legend of Francisco Villa is full of heroism, tragedy and romance, a story about how a poor farmer boy became a bandit after avenging an injustice on his family and transformed into a military genius who fled from an oppressive government to lead the largest revolutionary army in his country's history. He defeated a dictatorship to become Mexico´s liberator, only to fall again in disgrace when his troops abandoned him or were massacred by the enemy. Pancho Villa and his cavalry, Mexicans point out with a certain amount of pride, invaded the United States, and although they came and tried to capture him, they never found him. 

At 4:00 a.m. on the morning of March 9, 1916, Villa and about 500 Mexican soldiers attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico, a rare time instance when the continental United States was attacked by a foreign army with their 'boots on the ground.' Villa was reportedly desperate and furious because the American government had recognized the hated Carranza´s government. Other historians attribute more banal reasons for the ruthless attack on New Mexico, claiming that an American trader, who was living in Columbus, had supposedly sold Villa defective ammunition. 

Whatever the reason, Villa crossed the border after midnight, and a few hours later, his men stormed the peacefully sleeping town, or at least so it seemed. Villa's men attacked Columbus from four directions, shooting high and low, looting shops, and burning everything in its path. 

The subsequent military response, not against Mexico, but Pancho Villa specifically, was a kind of sophisticated training for World War I.  On April 18, American newspapers published these spirited words: 'Villa is dead!' Villa had certainly been hurt and was hiding in a cave, but he was very much alive.