Photograph Album Containing Over Two Hundred Silver Prints Depicting The Life And Training Of American Troops On The Texas And New Mexico Borders In 1916-1917, During The Border War Between Mexico And The United States

Publication: 1916-1917,

5 3/4" x 9 3/4" black flexible cloth boards, string tied, title (Photographs) in guilt. 202 silver print photographs, measuring 1 1/2" x 2 1/2," with manuscript captions. Photographs mounted into windows on stiff leaves, most leaves with handwritten captions. An engaging and informative album showing the activities of American soldiers sent to southern New Mexico and Texas to patrol the border with Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. Pancho Villa's forces had committed several attacks on Americans and American property, culminating in an attack on the town of Columbus, New Mexico in March, 1916. In retaliation General Pershing assembled American troops and engaged in a "Punitive Expedition" against Villa, supported by National Guard troops from all across the United States who were sent to the long border with Mexico. This album was assembled by an unnamed soldier who was stationed along the Mexican border in New Mexico and depicts military life and activities from June 22, 1916 until January 22, 1917, around the time that the bulk of American forces were withdrawn from the region. Though not specifically stated, the compiler of the album may have been part of the Pennsylvania National Guard, as two of the final images in the album (in a section captioned "Homeward Bound") are identified as showing locations near Altoona. A few soldiers are identified by name in the captions, which may help identify the unit to which the compiler belonged. The manuscript captions identify several locations in southern Texas and New Mexico, including Fort Bliss (which straddled the border of the two states, and where many of Pershing's forces were stationed), Mt. Franklin, Elephant Butte dam and lake, Las Cruces, Eagle, and Cutter in New Mexico, and Juarez, among others. Many of the images show soldiers drilling on foot and on horseback, training horses, marching, conducting rifle practice, building stables and a mess hall, relaxing on mountain peaks, etc. Also included are views of camp tents, artillery, trucks, horses, makeshift buildings, and a bullfight in Juarez. A few of the images identify specific camps, including Camp Stewart in El Paso, Texas, and the compiler of the album notes that two of the photographs show "my tents." First two leaves detached and loosely laid in. Very good. An interesting album of more than two hundred images, showing life among American military forces stationed along the Mexican border in pursuit of Pancho Villa.

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