Apr 13, 2023 - Sale 2633

Sale 2633 - Lot 119

Unsold
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
(MEXICAN EXPEDITION.) Henry T. Bull. A soldier describes Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, NM, and prepares to pursue him. Autograph Letter Signed "Hubs" to wife in Fort Myer, VA. 9 pages on 5 thin lined index cards, each 4 x 6 inches; vertical fold throughout, minimal wear. With original stamped envelope bearing Columbus postmark; and an unused Real Photo postcard, "Smoking Ruins of Columbus, N.M., raided by Pancho Villa," credited in negative to W.H. Horne of El Paso, TX. Columbus, NM, 28 March 1916
Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

This letter's author Henry T. Bull (1880-1971) was a career Army officer and Spanish-American War veteran. He served as lieutenant in the 5th United States Cavalry regiment which was dispatched in response to Pancho Villa's 9 March 1916 raid on Columbus, NM during the Mexican Revolution. The resulting punitive raid against Villa's rebel army pushed deep within Mexican territory. Here Bull recounts what he heard from the 13th Cavalry about the initial Columbus raid and response, and his preparations for the larger punitive expedition. His account of the Columbus Raid is near the end of his letter:

"In the fighting here, most all the officers except Castleman, Lucas, and Stringfellow were living out of camp, and did not get back until the Villistas were driven out of town. These three officers and numerous non-coms did all the early work. The guns and ammunition were locked up, and for the first few minutes until things could be gotten at, the men had to lie on the floor. The Mexicans shot very high and wild, otherwise more would have been hurt. They operated in groups and yelled 'Viva Mexico' or 'Viva Villa' continuously. Our men kept quiet and fired at every voice. The Mexicans early set fire to buildings in the town, and this reacted against them, for our men in the dark had them in the light of the fires. At daylight the Villistas were driven out to the west of the town. They retreated across the polo field to their horses. By this time the machine guns got into action on a little hill 100 yards west of camp, and 18 Mex were killed outright on the polo field. . . . The pursuit lasted ten miles, but was halted suddenly by the appearance of a thousand dismounted deployed Mex on a ridge S.W. of here in Mexico. Major Tompkins lost one man killed and six horses killed here before he fell back. He had but 38 men."

Bull described the current state of Columbus after the raid: "So far the count of Villistas killed by the 13th is 160, and more are being found daily. The houses and stores are filled with shotholes, and the barracks and stables the same." On the 13th Cavalry's commanding officer, who was accused of failing to prepare for the raid: "I cannot see how Col. Slocum will get out of it without a court, if one can believe half he hears."

Bull also describes his own regiment's preparations: "Our only instructions are that we strip down to the lightest field equipment today, and that we go into Mexico tomorrow. . . . The band stays here, and will guard the stuff we leave behind." Bull retired as a colonel in 1934.