In 1916, revolutionary leader Pancho Villa controlled much of northeastern Mexico. As a part of his campaign to destabilize United States interests in northern Mexico, Villa launched an attack on US mining executives. Eighteen Americans were killed.
He hoped the attack would convince the United States to remain neutral. It had the opposite effect. Americans who had previously paid little attention to the conflict in Mexico were outraged at the deaths and demanded a response. Then Pancho Villa led an attack on Columbus, New Mexico, prompting President Wilson to order a raid into Mexico to capture Villa and end the turmoil. In spite of Wilson’s support of the Mexican government, President Carranza regarded the action as a violation of Mexican sovereignty.
Nevertheless, General John “Blackjack” Pershing continued the pursuit. On this date in…
