The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-06-29
CAPTAIN BOYD AND LIEUTENANT
{ ADAIR AMONG KILLED, &C.
CORDING TO SCOUT, EN-
PLoYED BY PERSHiNG.
CAVALRY OUTNUMBERED
FIVE TO ONE, is REPORT
Americans Withdraw Only When
Heavy Mexican Reinforcements Are
Brought Up-U. S. Commander lg-
nored Warning, "Thinking Mexi-
can General Was Biuffing."

COLUMBUS, N. w., June ~. - ne
troop of the Tenth cavalry, which
clashed with Carranzista's at Carrizal
held the field for five hours before re-
treating, although they were outnum-
bered 5 to l., according to unofficial
reports. The reports said that the
Americans only withdrew when heavy
Mexican reinforcements were brought
up.
Chihuahua City, Mex, June 24-The
seventeen American soldiers, negro
troopers of the Tenth cavalry, who
were captured in the battle at Carri
zal, were brought here with Lem Fl.
Spillsbury Mormon scout, employed
by Gen. J. J. Pershing, and were in
termed.
Spillsbury said that Capt Charles
r. Boyd commanded the Americans
and with Lieut.. Henry r. Adair was
among the killed.
Seventy-siE in Troop.
Spillsbury's story, as announced by
General Trevino, was that rs negroes,
comprising Troop II Of the Tenth cav
airy, Captains Boyd and Moore, Lieu
tenant Adair and himself. composed
tered the MeXicans.
He said he saw on the field the dead
bodies of Boyd and Adair and at least
/ of the negroes. -... ....
Spillsburys account as given out
follows:
1--WE left Casas Grandes Sunday
morning, arriving outside Carrizal
early Wednesday morning.
Warned to Turn Back.
Captain Boyd Immediately dis
patched courier to the jefe politico
of the little village, advising him that
we were on our way to Villa Ahu-
mazda.
after we had waited some time
Lieutenant Colonel Rivas come out
and warned Captain Boyd that he had
better turn back. Captain Boyd then
explained that he was in pursuit of
some bandits which he had heard had
looted Santo Domingo and was bound
to catch a negro deserter which he
had heard was in Villa Ahumada.
Boyd Declines Invitation.
''In reply to this Lieut. Col. Rivas
notified the Americans that if he at
tempted to advance he would have to
pass over the dead bodies of the Mex
leans. He advised Boyd that he had
better not argue the matter.
"Rivas returned to the village to re-
port to his superior officer. General
Gomez, who sent out note inviting
the Americans to enter CarriZal for a
conference. Captain Boyd declined
this invitation
Urges Americans to Retire.
ION this ground. Gomez went out in
person and insstently urged the Amer
leans to retire, pointing out that his
orders from his superiors necessitated
his acting on them without further
parley. General Gomez repeated these
words as he walked away. Boyd mere
ly answered: All right"
General Trevino's announcement
then goes on to quote Spillsbury as
saying that after General Gomez had
retired to his troops, who were lined
up outside the town, Boyd ordered his
men to advance. whereupon Spillsbury
expostulated with him, arguing that
fight was sure to, follow. Spillsbury is
reported as saving that Captain Boyd
'obstinately seemed to think that the
Mexican general was only bluffing,'
and. the firing quickly began. He is
further quoted:
Negroes Become DemoraIized.
Captain Morey and Lieutenant
Adair fell wounded, the latter mortal
ly, Captain Morey was wounded in the
shoulder and Immediately the negroes
became demoralized. At the same time
the men holding the horses fled with
the mounts. leaving II negro soldiers
and myself. We were forced to sur
render.
81 saw the dead bodies of Boyd and
Villas Wife Is Deported.