Seven Things About Cinco de Mayo-- Part 3: Maximilian's Out. Juarez and Dias Battle for Control

5.  Continued.

With money running low in his coffers, Napoleon III decided in 1866 to end France's occupation of Mexico.  

Maximilian  unwisely stayed and briefly fought before surrendering his troops after they were routed at  Queretaro.  On June19, 1867, he and his generals were executed by firing squad.

6.  Porfirio Diaz began making a name for himself at Puebla.

Porfirio Diaz, Mexico's longest-serving president,  was a relatively unknown cavalry commander until the Battle of  Puebla, where he outflanked the French on their third charge and sent them into disorderly retreat.

Over then next several years, he won battles at Oaxaca and elsewhere.  Following the war, however, Diaz became  so disillusioned with his one-time friend Juarez that he unsuccessfully ran for president against him.

He later launched a couple coup attempts, finally seizing power in 1876.  Except for one four-year  break, his reign lasted until 1911, when he was finally deposed by the Mexican Revolution.

--Cooter

Francis Warren AFB-- Part 3: Fort Russel and "Black Jack" Pershing

In 1906, Secretary of War  William Howard Taft recommended an expansion for Fort Russell to brigade-size and by 1910, there were a lot more buildings.  Artillery units were assigned to the fort as well.

From 1913-1916, during the Mexican Revolution, artillery units were stationed along the border to keep the struggle from  coming to U.S. territory. During World War I, the fort served as a mobilization point and training facility for field artillery and cavalry units.

When the war began, Fort Russell became one of the largest stateside Army posts.

Quarters No. 2 at the post were for the second in command and  at one time the family of John J. "Black Jack" Pershing lived there.  He later led U.S. Forces in World War I.    He had married the daughter of Francis E. Warren.  Within two years of his marriage to Helen Frances Warren in 1905, Pershing was raised four ranks from captain to brigadier general.  Something unheard of in those days.

It is suspected that being married to the daughter of a very powerful U.S. senator and a personal favorite of Theodore Roosevelt had something to do with it.

For the post's role in World War II, go to my Tattooed On Your Soul:  World War II blog.

--Cooter

World War I Chronology, September 1917, 100 Years Ago: 1st U.S. Aero Squadron Arrives in France

SEPTEMBER 3--  1st U.S. Aero Squadron arrives in France.  U.S. planes to the rescue.

From Wikipedia.

The 1st U.S. Aero Squadron is the military's oldest flying unit, established 5 March 1913.  Today it still exists as the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (1RS), USAF and is assigned to the 9th Operations Group based at Beale AFB, California.

It was organized originally for operations along the U.S.-Mexico border during the Pancho Villa days.  Pancho Villa crossed the border and attacked Columbus, New Mexico, on 9 March 1916 and the 1st Aero Squadron was sent to Columbus and took part in the Punitive Expedition.

They were still in Columbus, N.M. when the United States entered World War I on 6 April 1917.  They were ordered to Fort Jay, New York, and accompanied the U.S. First Division to Europe by boat, departing 13 August 1917 and arriving in England 1 September.  They crossed the English Channel the next day.

Lafayette, We Are Here.  --Cooter

Today's Marine Corps Came of Age in WW I-- Part 2: Increase in Fighting Force

Despite the limited experience in the Philippines and along the Mexican border, it was going to be very different on the battlefields in France "where machine guns, artillery and chemical warfare were capable of killing 10,000 men in a day."

The Marines, which at the time had less than 15,000 men, had seen combat action in China and Nicaragua, but even that experience wasn't enough to prepare them for what they were about to face.

Army General John "Blackjack" Pershing was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to command the American Expeditionary Force.  He determined to keep the American units fighting as separate units rather than being supplied piecemeal to British and French forces as replacements.

America was now at war and the Marines would be called upon.  Congress approved an additional 31,000 Marines to increase their fighting strength.  General George Barnett, commandant of the Marine Corps, successfully orchestrated a nationwide recruiting campaign to enlist and commission the best of America's volunteers.

--DaCoot

Today's Marine Corps Came of Age in WW I-- Part 1: Just How Well Would They Perform?

From April 24, 2017 Army Times.com  by Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia (ret).

BELLEAU WOOD SHOWCASED GRIT, GUILE THAT STILL DEFINES THE SERVICE.

(Sgt. Major Brysan B. Battaglia served 36 years in the Marine Corps including as the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2011-1016).  Quite a record for him.

America's initial entry into World War I, which came three years after the war began, was more promise than power for the Allies.  Military experts on both sides of the Atlantic knew that  the Americans had the numbers, but their was little experience as far as combat troops.

The Army had been deployed to the Philippines to fight insurgents and units (and National Guard) had served along the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa times during the Mexican Revolution.

But this service was to be different from what they had faces.

--Cooter

Looking Back 102 Years, 1914: The War in Europe and Mexican Revolution

From the October 8, 2014, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

Solicitors will gather up money to send Red Cross nurses to Europe to take care of wounded soldiers.  There is no question but the wounded should be cared for, but why should the United States spend money caring for them while the countries to which they belong are spending money to create wounded soldiers."

They have a point there.

**  "The supervising architect of the post office building now being constructed in Sycamore found in the course of excavation on the site a Greek coin dated 1826. "

**  "There will be no reception of Mexican wounded by American army officers at Naco, Arizona, opposite Naco Sonora, where Villista and Carracista forces are about to engage in another battle."

Wonder What Its Story Was.  --DaCoot

Looking Back 102 Years: Forget the War in Europe and Political Campaign, the World Series Is On

From the October 15, 2014, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back:

October 14, 100 years ago.

"It does not matter how many thousands are being killed in Europe, or what the trouble is in Mexico, or what are the great issues of the present political campaign.

"The only question that has occupied the public mind this week is which ball team will win the world series, the Boston Braves or Philadelphia Athletics."

Apathy Way Back then.  --Cooter

Four DeKalb Lieutenants Back in 1916

This continues my post from December 26, 2015.

From the 29 March 1916 True republican "Four DeKalb County Boys Lieutenants."

Lt. Clayton Waterman is now in Vermont after being in China after service in Arizona.  He is engaged as an instructor in military tactics at Wellington, Connecticut.

All four lieutenants are in line for advancement because of the invasion of Mexico.

The other lieutenants:

Lt. Frank M. Kennedy of Hinckley who is in the aviation corps.

Lt. Cedric W. Lewis of Sandwich

Lt. Elvin H. Wagner who served in the Spanish-American War in Cuba and was stationed in Manila.

These last three are now stationed in Panama, part of 15,000 American troops there.

--Cooter

Second Battle of Aqua Priete, Mexican Revolution-- Part 2

From Wikipedia.

This was the battle Clayton Waterman of Sycamore, Illinois, participated in.

In early November 1915, the forces of Pancho Villa and the Constitutionalists fought at Aqua Priete, across the Rio grande River from Douglas, Arizona.  Pancho Villa's forces lost the battle and he attributed it to American interference especially from the large searchlights they turned on his troops.  This battle led to to even more disastrous Battle of Hermosillo on 15 November.

This engagement is referred to as the Second Battle of Aqua Priete.

The Constitutionalists at the battle were led by future Mexican President Plutarco Elias Calles, a supporter of Venustiano Carranza.  His force consisted of 6,500 while Villa had 15,000 troops.

Because of his blaming American forces for his defeat, he eventually attacked the American city of Columbus, New Mexico.

Camp Davis was built in Douglas, Arizona, in 1910.

--Cooter

Second Battle of Aqua Prieta: Mexican Revolution-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

On Saturday Dec. 26, 2015, I wrote about an article in the Sycamore, Illinois, newspaper from 1915 describing the role that Lt. Clayton Waterman from Sycamore had at Douglas, Arizona, involving the Mexicans.  I was unaware of this battle (or its name) and definitely confused by the statement where the American commander, General Thomas F. Davis "warned the contending armies to change the direction of their fire."

Were the Americans involved in the fighting, if so, why would they be warned about the direction of their fire?

I had to do some more research.

--Cooter

Battling Against Mexicans in 1915: Local Boy Fighting

From the Nov. 11, 2015, MidWeek "Looking Back."

November 1915:  Lieutenant Clayton Waterman, a former Sycamore boy, likely stationed in Douglas, Arizona, and formerly for some time in the Philippines, is actively engaged near Douglas in the trouble with Mexico.

"In the battle just across the American line shots went across to American soil, and general Thomas F. davis, commanding 6,000  American troops on the border warned the contending armies to change the direction of their fire."

--DaCoot

Battleships Ordered to Vera Cruz in 1914

On April 14, 1914, the U.S. Atlantic Fleet was ordered to Vera Cruz with all available battleships.  Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger went there in his flagship, the USS Arkansas.  Also ordered there were Leon Robinson's ship, the USS Vermont, the New Hampshire, New Jersey, Michigan, Louisiana and South Carolina.

Leon D. Robinson, from Sycamore, Illinois, was aboard the USS Vermont.

We sure had a lot of battleships.

--DaCoot

USS Solace (AH-2)

From Wikipedia.

This is the ship that carried Leon D. Robinson to the navy hospital at New York City after he was wounded at Vera Cruz.

Hospital ship used in the Spanish-American War and World War I.  Commissioned in 1898.  returned the wounded and ill to the United States from Cuba during the Spanish-American War  From 1909-1921, served with the Atlantic Fleet.

There is a postcard of the USS Solace during the Mexican Revolution while at Vera Cruz.

This was not the USS Solace (AH-5) that was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  This ship was commissioned from 1941-1946.

--Cooter

USS Vermont (BB-20)

From Wikipedia.

A Connecticut-class battleship commissioned in 1907 and decommissioned 1920.  Mounted four 12-inch guns.  Leon D. Robinson was serving on this ship.

On 12 February 1914 departed for Mexico during the Mexican Revolution to protect American interests in Vera Cruz.  Arrived Feb. 17 and remained there until April 29, when it returned to the United States.

--DaCoot

Sycamore's Leon D. Robinson, Wounded at Vera Cruz in 1914

I looked up Leon D. Robinson, whom I wrote about yesterday.  I was unable to find out where he was buried, but did come across two listings of him as one of the wounded in the U.S. Naval operations against Mexico at Vera Cruz in 1914.

The U.S. Navy Standard Publications listed him in "Names of Officers and Enlisted Men of the Navy and Marine Corps Killed or Wounded in Operations at Vera Cruz, Mexico, April 21, 22, 23, 1914."

LEON D. ROBINSON, seaman USS Vermont, right shoulder, will remove bullet; condition favorable.  Home address: Sycamore, Illinois.

Another source mentions that he was transferred to the USS Solace, later to naval hospital, M.Y.  Disposition-- on duty.

The USS Vermont (BB-20) was a battleship.

--Cooter

Looking Back 100 Years: Sycamore Resident Wounded at Battle of Vera Cruz in 1914

From the November 3, 2015, Midweek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

From October 1915, 100 years ago.

"Leon Robinson, a Sycamore boy, after being wounded in the first day's engagement of American seamen with Mexican troops at Vera Cruz over a year ago and finally recovering in the navy hospital in New York, being granted a furlough and visiting his father George E. Robinson in Sycamore and then getting married, has of late been serving on the President's yacht, the Mayflower.

--Cooter