Pancho Villa and the Raid on Columbus, New Mexico

There were many conflicts that were more significant in terms of gains, losses, and casualties than that of Villa’s raid of Columbus, New Mexico. Upon hearing that the nearby town of Columbus, New Mexico was lightly garrisoned, Mexican revolutionary Francisco “Pancho” Villa ordered what remained of his army to attack the small farming town. His well-earned reputation had been seriously damaged by this point considering recent losses that devastated his army, having both the Mexican and American governments after him, and by crossing into the United States he unknowingly made it certain that an end to his leadership within Mexico was inevitable. Why did Villa cross the border to attack Columbus? President Woodrow Wilson’s decision to give his diplomatic support to the Mexican government, led by President Venustiano Carranza, might be one reason. Villa feared that Mexico was on the path to be overtaken by the United States. This was by no means a ludicrous assumption. Mexico had been selling its land and allowing foreign investments to dominate much of its own potential capital. Another argument for the attack was to resupply his army, which had suffered a serious defeat at Celaya the previous year. The potential to pick up badly needed weapons, horses, and perhaps cash was the most likely reason, however Villa’s mentality has led historians to question whether his intentions were completely rational.
Pablo Lopez, a general who served under Villa and was captured following the Columbus raid, said that Villa’s thirst for revenge against the gringos was the motivation. Interviewed while awaiting execution by the Associated Press, Lopez stated, “The Santa Ysabel affair partly satisfied my master’s desire, for revenge, but it did not succeed in satisfying his other wishes. So we marched on Columbus – We invaded American soil.” Villa’s men had executed American workers that had been on a train in Santa Ysabel, Chihuahua. Lopez also alluded to the fears of