Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
On March 9, 1916, followers of the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa crossed the border and assaulted the town of Columbus, New Mexico, marking the last time the continental United States would be invaded by a foreign army. That raid made Pancho Villa, who just a few years before had the support of the U.S. government, enemy number one.
During the 90 minute long battle the city of Columbus was looted and burned and the Army's Camp Furlong was attacked. Following the raid, 100,000 soldiers would be sent to the border and the Army under General Pershing would enter Mexico in search of Pancho Villa. This would mark the first use of trucks and airplanes in combat by the United States Army, and the last major combat action by soldiers on horses.
Time would turn Pancho Villa into an almost mythical outlaw, and much of the battle site is now part of Pancho Villa State park, the only state park that I know of in the U.S. that is named for a foreign combatant.
In this video, we travel to Pancho Villa State Park and Columbus, NM to see the last place a foreign army invaded the continental U.S. and to find out what is left from that day over a century ago.
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
On March 9, 1916, followers of the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa crossed the border and assaulted the town of Columbus, New Mexico, marking the last time the continental United States would be invaded by a foreign army. That raid made Pancho Villa, who just a few years before had the support of the U.S. government, enemy number one.
During the 90 minute long battle the city of Columbus was looted and burned and the Army's Camp Furlong was attacked. Following the raid, 100,000 soldiers would be sent to the border and the Army under General Pershing would enter Mexico in search of Pancho Villa. This would mark the first use of trucks and airplanes in combat by the United States Army, and the last major combat action by soldiers on horses.
Time would turn Pancho Villa into an almost mythical outlaw, and much of the battle site is now part of Pancho Villa State park, the only state park that I know of in the U.S. that is named for a foreign combatant.
In this video, we travel to Pancho Villa State Park and Columbus, NM to see the last place a foreign army invaded the continental U.S. and to find out what is left from that day over a century ago.
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
