NARRATOR: Hello. And welcome to HistoryPod. On the 15th of March 1916, US General John J Pershing, led the Punitive Expedition into Mexico against Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa.

Five years into the Mexican Revolution that began in 1910, the United States government officially recognize Venustiano Carranza as the head of the government of Mexico. This placed the US at odds with Carranza's former ally, Pancho Villa, who retaliated by attacking US mining employees in Northern Mexico in January 1916. And later launched a raid on the town of Columbus in New Mexico.

More than a dozen Americans were killed in that attack and the center of the town was burned before Villa and his troops fled back to Mexico with stolen horses and military equipment. The next day, President Woodrow Wilson ordered a punitive raid into Mexico to pursue and disperse the revolutionary forces.

After assembling a well-equipped expeditionary force of thousands of soldiers, American General John J Pershing led the troops across the Mexican border on the 15th of March. Regiments of cavalry were used to conduct the pursuit on the ground, while the first aero squadron conducted aerial reconnaissance. Meanwhile, the army used mechanized truck convoys for the first time to transport supplies.

While the Americans grew frustrated by their failure to locate Villa, he evaded capture. Thanks to support from the local population and his knowledge of the mountains. Meanwhile, the Americans pushed further into Mexico causing a crisis that led to fighting against official government forces.

Although these tensions never led to all out war, the US Army were forced to pull back to the North, while Villa became more confident and began openly attacking Carranza's forces by January 1917, Villa was still no closer to being caught and Pershing forces were ordered to withdraw and return to the United States.