America Attacked:
Terrorism 1916 Style
Captured "bandits," allegedly members of Pancho
Villa's band which attacked Columbus, New Mexico in 1916. US
National Archives, NWDNS-165-UM-21. For
a larger image visit For larger images and more information
search the National
Archives NAIL engine, for Columbus, New
Mexico
The September 11, 2001 attack on the New York City and Washington has precedents in US history. One with some interesting parallels to the events of 2001 was the attack by Mexican Revolutionary leader Pancho Villa's forces on US soil in March, 1916. When the United States recognized one his rivals, Venustiano Carranza as the head of Mexico in September 1916. Villa turned hostile to the United States in bitterness and in hopes of provoking a United States intervention which might topple his rivals. In January, 1916 Villa killed 16 American mining engineers in Northern Mexico. When Villa's men attacked Columbus, New Mexico on March 9, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson responded by sending American military forces under John J. Pershing into Mexico.
Above, a listing of the US soldiers killed in the
Columbus raid, US National Archives, Return of casualties of the
13th U.S. Cavalry on the March 9, 1916, "Pancho Villa"
raid. Unrestricted. (NWCTB-94-CORRPI17E66-AGO3(1916)) . For
larger images and more information search the National
Archives NAIL engine, looking for Pancho
Villa
This page was last updated
August 21, 2002