Tuesday, November 2, 1915. The nighttime attacks at Agua Prieta.

Following a day of artillery fire, Villa started launching mounted charges, described yesterday, on Agua Prieta.  The town holds all night.  At 7:00 a fourth and final assault is launched, and failed.  Villa then withdrew towards Naco.

Constitutionalist at Agua Prieta.  The enlisted men are equipped with Mausers, likely in 7x57. An officer in the background is firing a Winchester rifle.

Villa was a superb natural cavalryman and his tactics at Agua Prieta showed that he had in fact learned from a recent defeat that overrunning dug in infantryman was difficult, hence the nighttime assault, which reduced the effectiveness of the defense against a rapidly advancing force.  He was not prepared, however, for the increased number of defenders, brought in by train transport across New Mexico and Arizona, and Calles anticipated the nighttime assault and was equipped with floodlights.

It was the second major defeat Villa had suffered in a couple of months, putting his command in great peril.

The French threw two temporary bridges across the Vadar

Last edition:

Monday, November 1, 1915. Villa attacks, and is defeated, at Agua Prieta.

Monday, November 1, 1915. Villa attacks, and is defeated, at Agua Prieta.

Villa's Division del Norte engaged Constitutionalist under Plutarco Elías Calles at Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico and held the city in spite of having a command less than half the size of Villa's 15,000 Conventionist.

Villa in March, 1915.

Villa, who had to cross the Sonoran Desert to attack the city, was not aware that the U.S. had recognized Carranza as the de facto head of Mexico.  Nor did he realize that President Wilson had allowed Carranza's troops to cross through American territory by train in order to strengthen the garrison, a move that amounted to a direct American intervention in the war.  3,500 fresh, veteran troops traveled through Arizona and New Mexico and arrived in the town in early October, bringing the total number of defenders to 6,500.  Villa believed the city was defended by a mere 1,200 men.

Villa's attack featured a daytime artillery bombardment and a nighttime cavalry charge, the latter rendered ineffective by searchlights.

Suffice it to say, Villa did not take the surprises well.  Wilson's action in allowing the Constitutionalist to cross the US to reinforce Agua Prieta would lead directly to the raid on Columbus, New Mexico, the following year.

Ernest Shackleton called off a march to Paulet Island due to deteriorating ice conditions. The men returned to a sinking Endurance.

Last edition:

Sunday, October 31, 1915. Villa advances on the border.

Labels: 1910s, 1915, Arizona (Douglas), Army, Border Patrol, Constitutionalist Army, Conventionists, Mexican Revolution, Pancho Villa, Plutarco Elías Calles, Second Battle of Agua Prieta, Venustiano Carranza, World War One

Sunday, October 31, 1915. Villa advances on the border.

 The U.S. was anticipating trouble near Douglas, Arizona.

It was Villa's troops that were on the offensive.

Last edition:

Saturday, October 30, 1915. On foot.

Labels: 1910s, 1915, boats and ships, French Navy, Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, World War One