This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Duane Kimbrow-Historian
to remember
Boyd, Charles Trumbull, CPT.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Sperry
Casualty Date Jun 21, 1916
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Mexico
Conflict Mexican Service Campaign (1911-1919)/Pancho Villa Expedition (1916-1917)
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Captain Boyd had served in the Spanish American War in the Philippine Territory, engaged in combat operations from July 1898 through June 1899.
He served as the commander of 10th Cavalry troops in General Pershing's "Punitive Expedition to Mexico" in search of Pancho Villa and his troops who had recently raided across the Border into New Mexico. (He served from 16 March until his death on 21 June 1916 on this campaign). The duty of his last expedition was to scout around Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico "to recon in the vicinity of the Santa Domingo Ranch" and avoid any confrontation with Mexican forces. (This was about 60 miles east of Colonia Dubla where the main U.S. Army camp was set).
However, it was at Carrizal, Chihuahua that the American troops came face to face with a much larger force of Carranza's Mexican Troops, and a confrontation began. He was killed during the ensuing Battle of Carrizal in a hail of gunfire.
During the battle, the U.S. Cavalry lost 2 officers and 14 men, and 23 were taken prisoner, the Mexican forces lost 45, including the Mexican forces commanding Officer, General Felix Gomez.
This battle nearly resulted in war between the U.S. and Mexico.
Comments/Citation:
see Links
Notes:
Details of the battle, how this battle came about, and evaluation of the operation can be found at: http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/huachuca/HI1-22.htm Following through this link, you can read the history of the Army in this area at that time. Entitled, Buffalo Soldiers at Huachuca: The Battle of Carrizal.