Battle of Columbus (1916)

BelligerentsUnited States

Conventionists

• División del Norte

Commanders and leadersHerbert Slocum
Frank TompkinsPancho VillaStrength 353 484Casualties and losses 8 soldiers killed and 6 wounded At least 67 killed and many more wounded
11 captured (6 executed) 10 civilians killed, 2 wounded

The Battle of Columbus, also known as the Burning of Columbus or the Columbus Raid, began on March 9, 1916, as a raid conducted by remnants of Pancho Villa's Division of the North on the small United States border town of Columbus, New Mexico, located 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the border with Mexico. The raid escalated into a full-scale battle between Villistas and the United States Army.

Villa himself led the assault, only to be driven back into Mexico by elements of the 13th Cavalry Regiment stationed at the town. The attack angered Americans, and President Woodrow Wilson ordered Brigadier General John J. Pershing to lead the in which the US Army invaded Mexico but failed to capture Villa.