First Battle of Tijuana The First Battle of Tijuana was an early engagement of the Mexican Revolution and the first significant victory for the Magonistas . Tijuana was captured and held by rebel forces on May 9 , 1911 and was used as a haven for recruiting American volunteers from California . Background . The tourist port of Tijuana in 1911 was a small settlement of less than 100 people during the time of battle , most of whom were Anglo s from the United States . When rebel forces of the Partido Liberal Mexicano captured Mexicali with little resistance , the rebels split their force in two , a first and second division were created . The " First Division " stayed in Mexicali while the " Second Division " was ordered to take Tijuana . The Second Division arrived outside Tijuana on May 7 , 1911 . All but ten of the Magonistas were Anglo - American with a few African - American volunteers that were dubbed filibuster s by the federal Mexican government . Battle . Most of the populace of Tijuana evacuated due the fear of battle . This left a company of 220 Magonistas against 200 federal Mexican Army troops to contend for the port town . The civilians who fled went north and alarmed the authorities in California so a force of United States cavalry was ordered to the border , American citizens and soldiers watched the battle from the roof tops of San Ysidro or from the train tracks running along the border . Just before dawn on May 8 , 1911 , the Welsh rebel General Caryl ap Rhys Pyrce requested the surrender of the Mexican Army commander Colonel Guerrero . The request of surrender was refused so at dawn the Magonista ' s surrounded Tijuana on the east and southern side . The two sides skirmished in the process of these maneuvers . When full daylight was at hand , Colonel Guerrero launched a counter attack to the south but this assault was beaten back and Guerrero was wounded . The federals fell back to their stronghold of breastwork s at the center of Tijuana while the Magonistas attacked the Mexican customs house . After taking that building the liberal forces raised their colors , a red flag bearing the words " " Land and Freedom " " in Spanish . Once the customs building was captured the rebels then pushed forward to the bullfighting ring where the federals had built fortifications . Fighting continued until the night of May 9 , by that time many of the structures in Tijuana were burning . With the wounding of their commander , and mounting casualties , Colonel Guerrero ordered a retreat and fled Tijuana to California with the bulk of his force , some others escaped south down the coast to Ensenada . A total of 12 federal troops were killed , around ten others were wounded and most of the survivors were interned by the United States Army when they entered California territory . Only one federal troop was captured , he was later court - martialed and released north of the border . About twenty rebels were killed in action , they also suffered about ten men wounded . Aftermath . Immediately after the battle looting occurred , much of the plunder was taken north . The Tijuana engagement resulted in an important strategic victory for the Magonistas . They could now be resupplied from the sea or from their junta in Los Angeles . More importantly , Tijuana was used as a point of recruitment of American volunteers . At the same time General Pyrce took Tijuana , rebel forces were fighting and winning the major Second Battle of Ciudad Juarez on the Texas border . The Ciudad Juarez battle along with the Zapatista victories in central Mexico , quickly was leaving the federal government of Porfirio Diaz into chaos . The Magonista ' s held Tijuana for over a month before being defeated at the Second Battle of Tijuana