Showing posts with label Utah National Guard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utah National Guard. Show all posts

Saturday, January 28, 2017

The Sheridan Enterprise for January 28, 1917. Conflict at the border.


The fighting at the border wasn't news just in Cheyenne.  It also hit Sheridan, in far northern Wyoming, on the same day, showing what a concern it truly was.

Cheyenne State Leader for January 28, 1917. Utah Guard Crosses Mexican border?


Just two days ago we noted the centennial of a Punitive Expedition Era clash between "Mexican forces" and the Utah National Guard.

On this day, residents of Wyoming were reading about it in their papers.

Folks in Cheyenne learned that the Mexican forces were Constitutionalist troops, which I believe to be accurate.  They also read, however, that the Utah Guard crossed the border into Mexico.

That would have been a hugely significant matter, if correct.  Generally, National Guard units were not supposed to cross the border into Mexico, and in the opinion of the United States Attorney General at the time, couldn't leave the country at all (although they certainly had in prior eras).  Unfortunately, with the passage of time, it's difficult to tell if they did cross for sure or not.  I suspect they did, as the newstory rings true for the time.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Utah National Guard clashes with Mexican forces on Arizona border. January 26, 1917

Cavalrymen from the Utah National Guard skirmished with Mexican forces along the Arizona border, resulting in ten Mexican casualties. This was the third, and last, skirmish that the Utah National Guard would engage in during the Punitive Expedition.

This unit would have been the 2nd Utah Cavalry, which remained on the border until March when relieved by the Regular Army's 10th Cavalry.

Note:  An item posted on Reddit's 100 Years Ago subreddit from the New York Times reports that this incident started off with cowboys trying to drive cattle away from the border at which time they were fired upon by "Mexican Troopers".

It's unclear in whose service the troopers were, but this gives a new dimension to the story.