MEXICAN REVOLUTION BORDER WAR 12TH INFANTRY BATTLE NOGALES 11.26.15 RPPC by LOHN For Sale

In November 1915, Pancho Villa was engaged in the major Battle of Aqua Prieta, a battle he ultimately lost. Short on men and supplies, Villa sent a detachment to Nogales, Sonora, the town was occupied without opposition. Shortly thereafter, a series of raids were launched across the international border into Arizona. It is not known which faction was responsible for the attacks, as both were known for raiding in southern Arizona, but it was most likely the Villistas. According to author Francisco Arturo Rosales, Villa's intentions at the time were to retaliate against the United States for their aid to Carrancista forces at Aqua Prieta and to destabilize the region enough to where President Carranzacould no longer control it.

On November 21, two Buffalo Soldiers from Troop F, 10th Cavalry, were fired on while manning a border observation post near "Monument 117". The cavalrymen returned the fire and in the gunfight Private Norman was wounded. On the next day, five armed Mexicans attacked a small camp of Troop F soldiers along the Santa Cruz River near Nogales, Arizona. The soldiers returned fire with revolvers and killed two of the raiders. On November 25, some guerrillas crossed the border and attacked a 10th Cavalry outpost that protected Mascarena's Ranch. Again the soldiers were from Troop F and they repulsed the raiders, one Mexican was wounded and captured.

On the next day, with Obregon's forces approaching the city, the Villistas began evacuating Nogales, Sonora. However, their evacuation was disrupted when a train used to transport Villista troops out of the city was captured by Obregon's troops. After the remainder of the evacuation was delayed, Villista snipers began shooting at American soldiers of the 12th Infantry who were guarding the border in Nogales, Arizona. In response to the sniping, the American commander of the 12th Infantry, Colonel Sage ordered his men to form a skirmish line and prepare for battle.

The line was formed at International Street, the border between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora. With Infantry snipers taking positions on the rooftops overlooking the border. When the order was given to open fire at about 10:00 am, Colonel Sage made sure that his men were only shooting at the hostile Mexicans and not at any of the non-combatants. Some American units crossed the border during the fighting but when General Obregon and his army arrived at about 12:40, Colonel Sage ordered his men to cease fire.

Obregon continued the battle for some time while the Americans watched from the border line. However, later that day, some 10th Cavalry sentries were fired upon by Obregon's troops from atop a hill. For thirty minutes the Buffalo Soldiers engaged the Mexicans, killing two, but eventually another cease fire was ordered and the commanders from both sides exchanged apologies. Obregon's men said they had "mistaken" the American troopers for Villistas.

Official American casualty returns show that Private Little, was mortally wounded and Privates Cates and Saupe were wounded in action. All three were members of Company L, 12th Infantry.

Mexican casualties reported, 60 fatal, with several more wounded.

In honor of Private Little, the War Department changed the name of Camp Nogales to Camp Little, a base that would harbor more than 10,000 men by 1916.