Columbus, New Mexico
On NM-11, just South of NM-9
GPS coordinates: 31.82805,-107.63996
Take a photo of your rally flag with the above image.

Led by General Francisco (Pancho) Villa, insurgent Mexican forces on the night of March 9, 1916 raided Camp Furlong, a United States Army encampment, and the nearby town of Columbus. Several people were killed, many others were wounded and numerous buildings and tents were burned.

Speculation abounds concerning General Villa's motivation behind the Columbus raid. One theory suggests it was an act of retaliation. Embroiled in a civil war, Mexico searched for leadership. A dispute broke out between Pancho Villa and Mexico's new president, Venustiano Carranza when Villa refused to acknowledge Carranza's authority.

To add insult to injury, President Wilson aided Carranza by allowing Mexican troops to be transported on the El Paso-Southwestern Railroad through Texas and New Mexico to a campaign in Mexico. These additional troops helped defeat Villa and his army in the battle of Agua Prieta, across from Douglas, Arizona on November 1, 1915.

And possibly the attack on Columbus occurred as retaliation for the shipment of troops, since the village had an El Paso-Southwestern depot. Amazingly enough, the depot only sustained light damage from the flying bullets.

More history can be learned at Pancho Villa State Park, NM-9 @ Washington Ave.

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Tour of Honor-New Mexico is sponsored by Michael Hickman from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.