Beschreibung:

Caption at top of card (in Spanish): "Soldatos Del 10 Reg. de Cab. Norteamericano Hechos Pricioneros En El Combate Del Carrizal por Tropas Const. de Mexico El 21 de Junio de 1916." Eleven of the 25 prisoners are depicted. All were returned 10 days after they were captured, but many had lost their clothing, equipment, etc. Two of the men (on right) in this image are shoeless. The United States launched the "Mexican Expedition" or "Punitive Expedition" against Mexico in 1916-1917, in retaliation for Pancho Villa crossing the border and attacking Columbus, NM. Elements of the 7th and 10th cavalries entered Mexico in pursuit of Villa. In mid-June 1916, they received intelligence that he could be captured at the town of Carrizal. Since the Aerosquadron was out of commission, General Pershing decided to send in a number of men for reconnaissance in the town. What they found when they arrived were about 400 Mexican Federal troops. What happened next is widely disputed. About the only point of agreement of the Mexican and American versions are that the two troops met at Carrizal. According to some, Captain Charles T. Boyd and Hank Adair were given orders specifically not to engage any troops found around the town. According to Adair, Boyd decided to "make history," and provoke a Mexican conflict. He did. He and the Mexican commander, Gen. Felix Gomez were both killed, along with about 45 Mexicans and 16 Americans. When the command structure broke down, the troops split up and fled, allowing this group of 25 to be captured. They were reportedly stripped of their clothing and marched to a local penitentiary, then moved to another prison a bit later. All were exchanged the following week. Condition: Very good, unused.