“Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something.” The famous last words of the Mexican revolutionary, before a hailstorm of bullets ended the life of the revered saint the poor people of Mexico loved so dearly. Doroteo Arango, better known as Pancho Villa, was born June 5th, 1878, in San Juan del Rio, Durango, Mexico. Villa worked like a slave for most of his childhood on the family farm. At the young age of 15, Villa’s father died, making him the head of the household. One day Villa came home to his mother attempting to prevent the rap of his sister. Villa shot the man. The social injustice and the attempted rape of his sister did not settle well with Villa. Villa couldn’t stand the ignorance within the Mexican people to allow such injustice. All of these emotions along with the possible consequences of shooting a man led Villa to flee to the Sierra Madre mountains making him a fugitive and stayed on the run for around 16 years. At this time Villa had become a bandit and made the change from Doroteo Aranga to Francisco “Pancho” Villa after Francisco Madero; a man he admired greatly. The actions Villa took from there on out may have made him out to be a murderer or a killer, but the things Villa did were for a much greater cause.
Villa had begun living the life the life of a bandit in 1896. He stole cattle, robbed great amounts of money, and committed assaults against the rich. Ultimately Villa wanted to overthrow Porfirio Diaz, the dictator of Mexico, because how he didn’t help nor care about the Mexican families that were struggling. Villa coalesced with Francisco I. Madero, Emiliano Zapata, and Orozco to overthrow the Mexican Government and fight for the rights of the poor people. Villa quickly made a name for himself. After joining Madero and the Mexican Revolution and was named the best Guerrilla fighter as he was the first to defeat government soldiers. Villa’s attacks are known to be very brutal and violent. The battle of Zacatecas is considered to be the bloodiest battle of the Revolution. It’s been said that the aftermath of the battle was pictured as blood from thousands of dead soldiers and civilians flowing down the streets.
Villa was placed under Victoriano Huerta who ended up sentencing Villa to death for insubordination. Villa was able to escape the United States. President Woodrow Wilson and General Scott felt that they should support Villa after hearing about his successful attacks in Mexico. He met with General Pershing in 1914 and was very cooperative and was thought to be the considered leader in Mexico in the eyes of the United States. With the assassination of Madero, Huerta rose to power. Villa joined Carranza to take down Huerta, but they soon became enemies and when Carranza took power in 1914, Villa led the rebellion against him. Villa made a coalition of Zapata, President Woodrow Wilson, and himself. This did not last long as Villa felt betrayed by the United States for withdrawing their support for him and then recognizing Carranza as President of Mexico. Villa was then worried about dangerous relations between the two leaders. After reports of American police officers arresting 20 Mexicans and then pouring kerosene gas on them to burn them alive, Villa was infuriated, to say the least. He was ready to crush the entire American army. When the United States got wind of Villa’s thoughts and plans they put a hindrance on any guns, ammunition, equipment, or supplies which made things twice as tough and expensive to purchase. On March 8, 1916, Villa and around 400 of his troops arrived about four miles from Columbus, New Mexico. At 4:45 A.M. on March 9, Villa’s men rode into Columbus, firing into the army barracks, catching the American soldiers by surprise.” The U.S. troops began firing back at the Villistas and Villa’s men retreated 5 miles back into Mexico where a resistance was ready for the U.S. troops and they retreated. More than 100 Villas and 17 Americans were lost in battle. Villa considered this as a win in his mind. He had made America mad, and Villa would continue to keep up his act until he received justice for himself and the people he loved and fought for.
“UNITED STATES TROOPS SMASH VILLA FORCE” was the newspaper article following the attack on Columbus. The U.S. was furious with Villa and they weren’t going to let him off on just killing some of his men. Pancho Villa was now subject to being captured by any means by the U.S. Army. They assigned the Tenth Calvary or the “Buffalo Soldiers” to find and punish Villa. The Tenth Calvary was made up of African-Americans and Anglo-American officers were tough men who weren’t afraid to punish the Mexicans. They put General John Joseph “Blackjack” Pershing in charge of the punitive expedition to bring Pancho Villa back dead or alive using whatever equipment they needed.
On April 2nd, 1916 General Pershing received a tip on the whereabouts of the hiding location of Villa. He then ordered Major Hank Tompkins, the Commander of the thirteenth cavalry to Parral, Mexico, and was met with an unpleasant surprise. Because of how loved and valued Villa is there, the townspeople of Parral have his back. They had his back because they knew that everything that he had done and went through was for them. Chaos grew once American troops had arrived the Mexicans retaliated and shots started firing off. The Carranza troops shortly joined the retaliation. Pershing ordered all American troops to retreat to Santa Cruz de Villegas. After all the fighting and attacks the Americans were left with fewer troops and no Pancho villa.
After the events at Parral, the people of Mexico are pushing Carranza to end the punitive mission to capture Villa. After lots of pressure, Carranza stated that Pancho Villa was no longer a threat, and ordered the retreat of all American troops. Wilson refused to do so and this lead to a war between The United States and Mexico. They had not seen the last of Pancho Villa yet though.
After a couple more troubling events between Wilson’s troops and Carranza, Wilson was fed up and threatened war. Carranza released the American captives and was finished with the conflict. It was far from over in the eyes of Pancho Villa. He wanted vengeance. Villa put his men together and continued their attacks. While having little supplies and ammunition, Villa always did whatever it took to get the justice his people deserved. Friedrich Katz said in his book “The Life and Times of Pancho Villa.” “ It is puzzling how Villa was able, despite his lack of military success and supplies only second to Orozco in strength and power.” This showed the power of Villa and his effect on his people. After many successful attacks and capturing many cities, in January 1917, Villa gathered his men and sought to capture Toreon. A very unsuccessful battle had led to the deaths of many of Villa’s troops, President Wilson saw this as the exit to this war and ordered all troops home.
On May 20, 1920, Carranza was assassinated and Adolfo De la Huerta took over as President. De La Huerta wanted peace in Mexico, so he negotiated with Villa for his retirement. They formed a truce by Villa ending his violence and attacks in exchange for land and amnesty. Villa went on to study business because he wanted to help give to his community. He saw education as a must for the upcoming generation of kids, so they could grow to be successful wealthy people. Villa hoped to not have to see his people be surrounded by these conditions and wanted them to grow and prosper. On July 20, 1923, on a calm morning in Parral, Mexico about 7 men sprayed bullets into the car that Villa was in and took his life. The word got out quickly about it. “VILLA DEAD U.S. WIRE INDICATES.” That was a newspaper headline days after. This was a victory for many, but the utmost tragedy for many more.
All in all, Pancho Villa held attacks on many cities, robbed the rich people, and portrayed acts of violence towards the Mexcian and American Governments to get social justice and resources for the poor people across Mexico. The things he did may have been wrong in the eyes of most people, but Villa had no other way to receive the attention from the Government. Villa brought justice to his community and even established a bank for the needs of the farmers and others. At the end of it all Pancho Villa was a man determined to take care of his community no matter the costs. He went to his grave doing everything in his power for the poor of Mexico. He may have been the enemy in most cases, but to the people of Mexico, he’s one of the greatest heroes in all of history.
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Essay on Pancho Villa Childhood.
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