Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-17

ora OF hard marching and hard luck.
Short two troops when it was made part
OF the Column that entered Mexico from
Culberson's ranch. it was divided on
reaching Colonia Dublan. The drst
squadron, sent south en- the Mexico
Northwestern, lost number Of men by
injuries when their ramshackIe train was
wrecked. The third squadron participate
ed in the vain march to San Miguel. 1t
was joined March "a by the first and both
reached Namiquipa March g. With the
first SQUADRON at San Diego del Monte,
the second engaged in It's nrst clash with
the enemy at Aqua Galiente on April l.
Three Of the so villistas routed were
killed. On April this squadron reached
San Antonio and on April it was at
Gust. Ordered on April 10 toward Parral
as thanking force, it arrived at a point
20 miles from that city just In time to re-
inforce Major Tompkins' squadron. which
had retreated from that city. The regi-
ment was concentrated during the retire.
ment and camped at Colonia Dublan on
May 10.
The regiment, on May 5, lost its COM
mander when Colonel Brown, Ill, left for
home. Brief mention only Is made of the
hardships the only negro cavalry in the
expedition endured. 1t received no clothes
until May 10. The horses began to suffer
early in the campaign from lack Of for
age and on March q they were further
disabled when their shoes began to wear
out. The first supply of coffee. hard
bread and bacon received since March IS
was furnished the men on April 20. Dur
ing that time the command subsisted al
most entirely on beef killed on the range
and corn ground in small hand mills. No
details are given concerning the scouting
expeditions in which Troop c from Ojo
Federico, and Troop from Dublan,
where engaged when cut p at Carrizal.
The narrative of the 18th, the most de-
tailed of the five submitted, contains ex-
tracts from the war diaries of the com.
handing officers and furnishes valuable
sidelights on the campaign as viewed dur
ing its critical period. Arriving at Colo
MIA Dublan, on March @, the regiment
was split. four picked troops under Ma
jor Howe moving south on Villas trail,
reaching Namiquipa on March q. -Four
others. under Lieutenant Colonel H. T.
Allen. who later became colonel of the
18th. left March 80 for Namiquipa with
verbal instructions in regard to the pur.
suit of the outlaw leader. Colonel Allen,
at San Antonio on April Sth, was ordered
to follow Pablo Lopez trail.
Major Howe, unable to pick I'D Villas
trail in the Sierra Puras, into which
range he had fled. skirted the mountains,
hoping to capture the bandit when h.
emerged. On April 10, according to his
diary, his horses were thin and foot
sore. his men ragged and no food or grain
was to be had in the country" Accord
ingly he decided to make for the Parral
country and arrived at Santa Cruz de
Herrera about the time the expedition
was halted. He had marched ss1 miles
through some of the most difficult noun.
tain country in Northern Mexico.
Colonel AlleE, meanwhile, had been
making marching history. Ordered on
April Y toward Parral, he led his men,
after 16 consecutive days Of travelling. on
march that lasted the day Of April Il
and the night of the 14th and 18th.
The situation that obtained during the
days following the Parral fight. while the
cavalry was near the Durango line, be-
tween Villa and safety, is summarized by
Colonel Allen In his war diary as follows:
THE story of Parral, the conference be-
tween the American and Mexican au-
thorities. the search for supplies during
our encampment at this little ranch con-
stitute one of the most interesting, char
acteristic and peculiarly delicate situa-
tons. within my knowledge. of the pu-
nitive Expedition. The attitude of the
people Of Parral, the instructions from
General Gutierrez not to go a step far
Their south, the dictatorial manner Of
Gen. Luis Herrera at the conference on
April q and his reply to the request for
disavowal of the unprovoked attack, end
ing with there is no reason for an apollo
gy on my part" all these 60 to show the
character of the cooperation this expo
ditioh was receiving from the authorities
and the people. The night our column
passed through zaragassa Immediately
after the Parral affair." the situation was
very tense and was expecting an attack
as we passed."
Nothing unusual marked the retirement
OF the 18th. save the fight at Ojo Azules
Here on May Major Howe, after an all
night march, surprised 14O villistas. killed
~. saved Carranza lieutenant and four
men from execution and scattered the
band broadcast. Among the more noted
victims were Julio Acosta. Cruz Do
minguez and Antonio Angel All this
without a single casualty.
Among recommendations regarding cav
airy equipment resulting from observa-
lions made during the campaign are:
A lighter saber, If it Is decided to keen
the caber at all; light pack outfit OF
necessary cooking utensils for the man:
light hunting boots. hobnailed, instead OF
the present leather leggings: fruit com.
plenlent dried or otherwise to make
room for which the hard bread supply
could be reduced in the field ration;
horses about Is hands high. short coupled
and big barreled.
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