Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
FULL REPORT OF
ATTACK is MADE
Continued From Page ~

The conference in the city with the
presidents and with the Carranza gen.
eral commanding TN Parral, Cen
Ismael Lozano, was pleasant Promises
were made to sell the Americans food
and to show them good camping site.
Immediately the Americans started
out Of the city accompanied by Her,
rera and Lozano, who were riding with
Maj. Tompkins.
Firing Commences.
When the Americans were out OF the
town, the pack train at their rear. Ma
Tompkins heard firing. Looking back
he saw that someone in the town was
! shooting at the pack train. He had
heard shouts OF viva villa and
viva Mexico" and curses against
"Gringoes.'
Mai. Tompkins turned to the Car.
rama leaders and asked them what
they knew about firing on his pack
train. Gen. Lozano and the presidenee
hurried back toward the town to stop
the shooting.
The Americans were in column
formed for defense when this firing
began. Both of the soldiers killed IN
the action were near Mai. Tompkins,
AS the firing became general, Mai
Tompkins and the men of his conf
mand could see their assailants, VINO
wore the khaki uniforms OF Carranza
soldiers. Maj. Tompkins discovered
one column of these uniformed men
moving out to cut of the road to the
east and the north, where he would
have to retreat. He shouted to them
to get away from the road. When they
did not heed his warning the American
commander wheeled on his horse ana
ordered his men to reply to the hre.
Body Left Behind.
Sergeant Jay Ridgeley Of Troop IA,
thirteenth cavalry, was the first Amer
lean killed. His body lay all DAY
where IT fell in the road, as his COM
panions were too hard pressed to PICK
it up. A bullet struck Maj. Tompkins
in the left breast The wound was
slight, according to military STANDARDS,
and the major continued ngnung Until Until
reinforcements arrived.
Lieut.. ]. B. Ord, Of the sixth lnian'
try, was shot in the left ear.
AS the firing began, Maj. Iompklhs
received word from the Carranza
general that the civilians were do1ng
the shooting, that his troops were I'M
able to control them and advising the
Americans to fall back. This railing
back movement continued for nve
hours and half, over distance or
nfteen miles on a road bordered by
bushes and hills. affording good cover
for pursuers. During all TINS ume
the American troops repeatedly causnt
sight of men in Carranza uniforms
shooting at them, but saw few II any
civilians.
After moving out from the trap OF
hills where the fght began, NAL.
Tompkins formed line of dismounted
men across the road and on aoJolnlns
eminences, who retarded the attack-
ers until the pack animals and stores
had time to get back toward the
American rear,
Retreat 10 Slow.
Repeatedly during the afternoon this
defense line continued to form. to nre
from the cover OF rocks, plowed
ground and bitches and then fall back
TO it's horses for further retreat. me
Americans had only their pistols and
rifles and every man was instructed
to save his cartridges until ne could
make them count. During one OF these
defensive stands, Private Herbert Led
ford, Troop M, thirteenth cavalry, was
shot in the hand. He continued 10
fight. Late in the afternoon he was
shot dead of his horse. His body lay
in the road but at all times under
cover of such an effective American
fire that it was not molested.
|. The other Americans wounded dur
ing the afternoon fight were Corporal
BENJAMIN McGhee Of the thlrteentn
cavalry, shot in the mouth; corpora
Walter e. Willingham, Troop IA tnir-
tenth cavalry, shot in the calf OF the
left leg; Corporal Richard famous,
Troop K, thirteenth cavalry, shot twice
and Private L. M. Shoenberger, troop
K. thirteenth cavalry, who suffered
light wound in the left hip.
Ammunition Runs Low.
A the Americans fell back. Maj.
Tompkins finally ordered that only
the expert rife shots among his men
should reply to Mexican fire, as the
cayalrymen were not hard pressed and
as he wished to save ammunition.
Shortly before dark the Americans
req ched the adobe Mexican village OF
Santa Cruz where they 1oopholed some
heavy mud walls, foot or more thick
making very effective defensive posi-
tons. The Mexicans did not press
them in this village but continued mr.
ing until $50. At that hour all shoot
ing ceased.
Immediately mounted man bearing
flag of truce approached the Ameri-
can lines and was taken to MAJ.
Tompkins.
In the Mexican lines bugles were
blowing the military recall for cav
alrymen.. The truce messenger brought
word from Gen. Lozano who was at
that time in the Mexican lines a short
distance from the Americans. Loz.
AMOS note suggested that he was un-
able to control his men. Tompkins
replied Immediately and quickly there
came another flag Of truce from
Lozano who still was at the Mexican
front. This second messenger brought
demand from Gen. Lozano that Maj.
! Tompkins withdraw and threatened to
| attack him il he refused.
Col. Brown, who arrived at this
18TH oEn ,,oor ~ ho fonfh CSV.