Today in Columbus whole blocks of jagged foundations and
debris-filled hummocks mark the sites where homes and business
houses once stood. It increased from 268 people in 1910 to
6,536 by 1920. Now it's back to a sleepy town of a few hundred,
again, historic and unique. Pancho Villa and 800 of his fierce
soldiers could be the reason. It began on that infamous night of
March 9, 1916. Wild bugles, sounding the charge. Wild sputtering
rifles. Wild cries of men come to avenge fancied wrongs. Wild
flames leaping up everywhere Villistas could apply a torch.
Terror swept over this little American town on the Mexican
border. Then the rage of US troopers of the 13th Cavalry when,
electrified from their bunks, they found their rifles and machine
guns locked in a separate building. US soldiers rallied and fought
back. Civilians joined them. The burning buildings lighted up the
enemy. At last American machine guns poured in their deadly fire.
Villa, shot in the leg, retreated with his demoralized army. Only
eight civilians and seven American soldiers were killed, About
250 Villistas lay dead.
Then into Columbus poured 12,000 American troops from other
border posts. General Pershing led his men into Mexico on a
futile chase after Villa. The Mexican rebel was never caught.
There's a vast spread between today' s Columbus and the teem-
ing soldier-packed town of 1916. Every school day of the year,
buses bring Mexican children over from Palomas, Mexico to
attend the American school in Columbus. Youngsters of both
nations are learning to understand one another.
Then, there's the Pancho Villa State Park, marking the location
of the American Army Camp. (The name infuriates old-timers
here). There are good camping and picnic facilities as well as a
motel nearby. You can reach this port of entry town by taking
State Highway 11, south out of Deming, for 32 miles.