Battle of Tierra Blanca facts for kids
The Battle of Tierra Blanca was an important fight during the Mexican Revolution in 1913. It happened about 35 miles (56 km) south of Ciudad Juárez. This battle was a big win for Pancho Villa and his soldiers. They defeated the federal forces led by José Inés Salazar, who was loyal to the leader at the time, Victoriano Huerta.
Quick facts for kids Battle of Tierra Blanca |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Mexican Revolution | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
|
|
|
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Pancho Villa | José Inés Salazar | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 6,200 | 5,250–5,500 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 300 dead, 200 wounded |
1000 dead, 600 wounded |
||||||
Contents
The Armies Face Off
The two armies were quite similar in size. Pancho Villa had about 5,500 soldiers. General Salazar's federal army had around 7,000 soldiers. Even though Salazar's troops had more training and more big guns (artillery), Villa's forces were very determined.
The Battle Begins
The fighting started on November 23, 1913. The first day saw a lot of back-and-forth action, but no clear winner. Before the main clashes, one of Villa's trusted men, Rodolfo Fierro, was sent south. His mission was to destroy the railroad tracks. This stopped the federal soldiers from moving forward easily.
A Clever Plan
On the second day, Villa used a smart tactic. While his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) went around the sides of the federal army, something amazing happened. A locomotive (a train engine) was packed with dynamite and other explosives. This "dynamite train" was then crashed into the federal army's train cars!
The huge explosion caused Salazar's men to panic. They quickly ran to other train cars that were not damaged to try and escape. But Villa's cavalry was already there, ready to attack. This surprise attack, along with Fierro's mission to blow up supplies behind the enemy lines, made Salazar's forces fall apart.
Fierro's Daring Act
Rodolfo Fierro became famous for a brave act during the battle. He rode his horse after an escaping locomotive. He then climbed onto the moving train! He ran across the roofs of the train cars. He shot the train's boilerman and conductor, stopping the train completely. This helped Villa's forces capture more federal soldiers and supplies.
After the Battle
Pancho Villa's army captured many valuable things. They took 4 locomotives, 7 machine guns, horses, rifles, and 400,000 rounds of ammunition. About 1,000 federal soldiers were killed, while Villa's army lost around 300 men. This victory was very important for Villa. It helped him gain control of more areas during the Mexican Revolution.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Tierra Blanca para niños
