Columbus, New Mexico
First a shout of surprise in the dark pre-dawn desert
Then a volley of shots split the night
A citizen fell with a look of surprise
At the opening move of the fight
March 9th, in Columbus, in 1916
The country was challenged that day
An attack on a small town, blood in the streets
Then the Cavalry joined in the fray
Pancho Villa’s troops, numbering 400 strong
Crossed the border and fell on the town
Bent on death and destruction they swept like a wave
Homes and businesses burned to the ground
They thought that the dawn would bring victory then
As Americans died in the streets
But the shock and surprise quickly started to fade
As the troopers were quick to their feet
The first one to die was Private Fred Griffin
Shot as his challenge rang out
But three enemy fell from his Springfield ‘03
The fight’s outcome was surely in doubt
The Troopers spilled out of the barracks with haste
Determined to drive back the foe
They were green troops for sure, but not a man faltered
As the hot battle raged to and fro
Lieutenant Lucas of the machine gun troop
Barefooted, with pistol in hand
Had his men get the guns into action at once
They began to rain lead ‘cross the land
As the brave 13th Cavalry charged into town
Pancho’s plan of a victory was spurned
The Villistas retreated, their dead left behind
Back to old Mexico they returned
The Mexicans pulled out and fled to the south
As the desert dawn lightened the sky
Major Tompkins took charge of just 32 men
H Troop mounted with blood in their eyes
Twenty-nine men from F Troop then followed
They were ready and rode in good order
Sixty-one men chasing more than 400
Major Tompkins didn’t stop at the border
For thirty more miles they pressed the pursuit
Vengeance and death in their heads
When they turned their exhausted mounts back toward Columbus
A hundred Villistas lay dead
That night in the desert there was bravery and pain
But a statement was made loudly then
We will fight to the death to defend this great land
Hats off to those Cavalry men
The Distinguished Service Cross was awarded to Major Frank Tompkins for his actions at Columbus New Mexico March 9, 1916
Panoramic view of Columbus
After the raid
Model 1909 Benet-Mercier
30-06 machine gun
used to defend the town
Click to view photos
The regimental crest of the 13th Cavalry
The sun is taken from the flag of Nebraska where the regimant was formed in 1901.
The cactus wreath on the left is for service in the Mexican Punitive Expedition.
The palm wreath on the right is for service in the Phillipines.
