BATTLE // March 29, 1916

Battle of Guerrero

Name: Battle of Guerrero
Start: 1916-03-29
End: 1916-03-29
Location: Battle of Guerrero

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Significance

The Battle of Guerrero was the first direct military engagement between United States forces and Villista rebels during the Punitive Expedition into Mexico. Fought after a long ride by elements of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, the action resulted in the rout of a large Villista force at Guerrero, Chihuahua, with over seventy-five Mexican casualties against only five Americans wounded. The outcome demonstrated that U.S. forces could locate and engage Villista units on Mexican soil, lending early operational credibility to the expedition. The engagement has since been noted as what observers called the last true cavalry charge in American military history, marking it as a transitional moment in the conduct of U.S. ground operations.

Tactics

After a long ride, elements of the American 7th Cavalry Regiment located a large force of Villistas at the town of Guerrero. The Americans mounted a direct assault on the town, described as a cavalry charge, which routed the defenders and inflicted heavy casualties on the Villista force.