Battle of Parral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Parral
Part of the Border War, Pancho Villa Expedition
Soldiers from the 13th Cavalry getting ready to load coffins of fallen soldiers onto a train in Columbus, New Mexico, during the Pancho Villa Expedition.
Date April 12, 1916 Location near Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico Result American tactical victory Mexican attacks repulsed
Belligerents
United States	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
Frank Tompkins (WIA)	Ismael Lozano
Strength
~150 cavalry	~70-120 cavalry
Casualties and losses
5 killed 6 wounded	7 killed or wounded

The Battle of Parral happened on April 12, 1916. It was the first time soldiers from Venustiano Carranza's army (called Carrancistas) fought against the United States military. This battle took place during the Mexican Expedition. A small group of American cavalry soldiers was leaving the city of Parral, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. A larger group of Carrancista soldiers then attacked them. This led to a difficult fight. The Americans used a smart plan to pull back in an organized way. This helped them push back the Mexican attacks and safely reach a protected village called Santa Cruz de Villegas.

What Caused the Battle?

In early April 1916, Major Frank Tompkins wanted to find and fight the rebel leader Pancho Villa. Major Tompkins had fought in the Battle of Columbus before. He convinced the expedition's commander, General John J. Pershing, to let him lead a group of about 120 men from the 13th Cavalry. Their mission was to go deep into Mexican territory.

Major Tompkins and his men started their journey around April 5. They rode quickly across the Mexican desert, covering eighty-five miles in just fifty hours. After several days, Tompkins wrote that his men looked "ragged" and "savage." They hoped to rest in Parral for a day. They had been told by a Mexican officer that they would be welcome there.

The Fight in Parral

When the American soldiers arrived in Parral on the morning of April 12, things changed. General Ismael Lozano, the Mexican commander of the city, told Major Tompkins that his visit was a bad idea. He insisted that the Americans leave immediately. Tompkins agreed, and his men started to leave Parral soon after.

As they were leaving town, a group of Mexicans began shouting "Viva Villa" and other phrases. Tompkins shouted the same back. A few minutes later, just outside the town, about 550 Carrancista soldiers on horseback attacked the American column. In the first moments of the attack, an American sergeant standing near Tompkins was killed. Another soldier was badly hurt.

Since they were greatly outnumbered, Tompkins had to keep moving. He ordered a small group of soldiers to act as a rear guard. This group took positions on a small hill to slow down the Mexican pursuers. In this first clash, about twenty-five Mexican soldiers were killed, and the rest were forced to retreat. The rear guard then rejoined the main American force.

Soon after, the Americans faced another attack. During this second fight, about forty-five more Mexican soldiers were killed. Tompkins continued his march towards Santa Cruz de Villegas. This was a fortified town, eight miles from Parral, where the Americans could defend themselves. By the time they arrived, the fighting had stopped. However, the Mexican forces were still nearby. Tompkins worried his 100 men might be surrounded by hundreds of Carrancistas. So, he sent riders to ask for more soldiers.

Reinforcements Arrive

Just before 8:00 am, more American soldiers arrived. These were Buffalo Soldiers from the 10th Cavalry. They had recently fought against about 150 of Pancho Villa's men at the Battle of Agua Caliente on April 1.

After these reinforcements arrived, the Mexican soldiers went back to Parral. There was no more fighting. In the battle, two American soldiers were killed and six were wounded, including Major Tompkins. For the Mexican side, between fourteen and seventy soldiers were killed or wounded, depending on different reports.

What Happened Next?

The Battle of Parral was an important event in the Mexican Expedition. It marked the farthest point the American forces went into Mexico during the operation. This was 516 miles from the border. After this battle, the American troops slowly began to pull back from Mexico. They fully left in early 1917.

General Pershing was at Satevo, eighty miles north of Parral, when he heard about the battle. According to a journalist named Frank B. Elser, General Pershing was very angry. He demanded that the Carrancista government, which was then in charge of Mexico, apologize for the attack. An apology never came. This made General Pershing believe that he might have to fight the larger Carrancista army, not just Pancho Villa's rebels. Pershing even asked his commanding officer, General Frederick Funston, for permission to capture the state and capital of Chihuahua. However, this request was not approved.

See also

In Spanish: Incidente de Parral (1916) para niños