COLUMBUS
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COLUMBUS |
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NAME: Columbus COUNTY: Luna ROADS: 2WD GRID #(see map): 8 CLIMATE: Mild winter, warm summer BEST TIME TO VISIT:Spring, winter, fall |
COMMENTS:
Now A State Park REMAINS: Much Remains |
| The town began as a border station opposite Palomas, Chihuahua, Mexico about 1890. It became famous and forever took its place in history on Thursday, March 9, 1916. It was on this day and date the infamous Mexican bandit, Pancho Villa, and his command of five hundred Villistas attacked the town of Columbus. It was here that General John J. Pershing launched the undeclared war against Pancho Villa and his several thousand bandits. It was here that the historical events of March 9, 1916 and those that followed brought worldwide publicity to the small town of Columbus, New Mexico. At the time of the attack by Pancho Villa, Columbus was the home of Camp Furlong that housed the U.S. Army Thirteenth Cavalry. The final toll of casualties amounted to eight American soldiers, nine civilians, and about a hundred Villistas dead. During the next eleven months Columbus was the headquarters for the punitive expedition into Mexico led by Brigadier General John J. Pershing. Today Columbus has much to offer the visitor including a motel for an overnight stay. The railroad station and some of the old adobe and wooden buildings of the border town remain as they did on March 9, 1916. It is now a State Park. Courtesy Henry Chenoweth. |
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