Following the Battle of Parral, American forces did not advance further into Mexico but scouted out from locations that they were encamped in. On June 20 the 10th Cavalry went out on such an expedition from Colonia Dublan and received reports of a Mexican Constitutionalist force in the vicinity. They proceeded to encounter the force at Carrizal. The Mexican forces was deployed to block their further advance to the west and informed the American unit of the same, which in turn informed the Mexican force that it was to proceed through the town. The Mexican force agreed to let a portion of the American one advance, ultimately, but fired upon it once it entered the town.
A battle ultimately ensued which resulted in the loss of ten enlisted men and two officers. Unit cohesion was lost in the battle on both sides and the cavalry did not advance past the town. Several enlisted men were taken prisoner by Mexican forces but were repatriated at El Paso Texas ten days later. Mexican losses were heavier, including the loss of their commanding officer in the unit. Nonetheless, the battle may be taken as an indicator as to how the US expedition had bogged down into a type of stalemate whose character was changing.
US troops being repatriated at El Paso.
The engagement was the costliest action that the US engaged in during the Punitive Expedition and it was correctly judged to be a defeat at the time. The battle came at a point in time in which the US and Mexico were teetering on the brink of war and Pershing was sufficiently angered by it so that he sought permission to advance on Chihuahua City. President Wilson denied him that permission which likely adverted full scale war breaking out.
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