First Battle of Tijuana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Battle of Tijuana
Part of the Mexican Revolution
The only Mexican Magonistas who fought at the battle.
Date May 8–9, 1911 Location Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Result Magonista victory, rebels capture Tijuana.
Belligerents
Liberal Party Liberal Army	Government Federal Army
Commanders and leaders
Caryl Ap Rhys Pryce	Col. Guerrero
Strength
~220 infantry	200 infantry
Casualties and losses
~20 killed ~10 wounded	12 killed ~10 wounded 1 captured

The First Battle of Tijuana was an important fight during the Mexican Revolution. It was the first big win for a group called the Magonistas. On May 9, 1911, these rebel forces took control of Tijuana. They used the city as a safe place to find new volunteers, especially Americans from California.

What Led to the Battle?

In 1911, Tijuana was a very small town. Less than 100 people lived there. Most of them were Americans.

Rebel forces from the Partido Liberal Mexicano had already captured Mexicali. They did this with little trouble. The rebels then split their group into two parts.

One group stayed in Mexicali. The second group was ordered to take Tijuana. This "Second Division" arrived near Tijuana on May 7, 1911. Most of these Magonista fighters were American volunteers. Some were African-American. The Mexican government called them "filibusters."

The Battle for Tijuana

Most people living in Tijuana left before the battle. They were afraid of the fighting. This left about 220 Magonista rebels to face 200 Mexican federal soldiers.

Civilians who fled went north to California. They warned the authorities there. So, American cavalry troops were sent to the border. American citizens and soldiers watched the battle. They watched from rooftops in San Ysidro. Others watched from train tracks along the border.

Just before dawn on May 8, 1911, the rebel General Caryl Ap Rhys Pryce asked the Mexican commander, Colonel Guerrero, to give up. Colonel Guerrero refused. So, at dawn, the Magonistas surrounded Tijuana. They attacked from the east and south. Small fights broke out as they moved into position.

When it was fully daylight, Colonel Guerrero launched a counterattack. He attacked to the south. But his attack was pushed back. Colonel Guerrero himself was wounded. The federal soldiers fell back to their strong defenses. These were fortifications in the center of Tijuana.

The Magonistas then attacked the Mexican customs house. After taking that building, the rebel forces raised their flag. It was a red flag with the words "Land and Freedom" in Spanish. Once the customs building was captured, the rebels moved forward. They went to the bullfighting ring. The federal soldiers had built defenses there. Fighting continued until the night of May 9. By then, many buildings in Tijuana were burning.

With their commander wounded and many soldiers hurt, Colonel Guerrero ordered a retreat. He fled Tijuana to California with most of his soldiers. Others escaped south along the coast to Ensenada. In total, 12 federal troops were killed. About ten others were wounded. Most of the survivors were held by the United States Army in California. Only one federal soldier was captured. He was later released north of the border. About 20 rebels were killed in the fighting. They also had about ten men wounded.

What Happened Next?

Right after the battle, looting happened. Many stolen goods were taken north. The capture of Tijuana was a very important win for the Magonistas. Now, they could get supplies from the sea. They could also get supplies from their main group in Los Angeles. Most importantly, Tijuana became a place to recruit more American volunteers.

At the same time General Pryce took Tijuana, rebel forces were also fighting. They were winning the major Second Battle of Ciudad Juarez on the Texas border. The Ciudad Juarez battle, along with Zapatista victories in central Mexico, caused problems for the government of Porfirio Diaz. The Magonistas held Tijuana for over a month. They were later defeated at the Second Battle of Tijuana.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Tijuana para niños