CLASSIC GUN FIGHTS

Villa vs. Calles: The Bloody Battle of Agua Prieta and the Death of the Cavalry Charge

- BOB BOZE BELL

Moving into position two miles east of Agua Prieta, Pancho Villa and a force of 6,000 soldiers spread out along a low ridge, shielding them from the fire of the border town defenders. At 1:37 p.m., a vigorous artillery shelling begins with Villa’s big guns unleashing round after round on their objective. Several small buildings and a flour mill are hit and set afire. Under cover of the artillery barrage, Villa’s infantry advances forward, which draws the fire of the Calles defenders, including their own heavy artillery.

Incredibly, as the Villista infantry troops advance toward a slaughterhouse they veer off to the border fence and beg a line of American spectators for water!

By 3:15 p.m. Villa’s second wave of attackers advanced a quarter-mile and they also went to the fence and begged for water. The main attack came at 2 a.m., but even the darkness did not protect them as the Carranza defenders utilized searchlights to repel the invaders. By dawn, no attackers had breached the mine-strewn battlefield, or the town itself.

Another attack was attempted on the west side of Agua Prieta on the morning of November 2, but it too was repulsed. Villa and his troops stumbled on to Naco to reassemble, but some 1,400 of his troops deserted him. The battle was over and so was the cavalry charge.

The “Lion of the North” meets his match at Agua Prieta.

Based on the research of Greg Scott. Cindy Hayostek, Samuel K. Dolan, and John S.D. Eisenhower

The End of the Cavalry Charge