File No. 812.00/18916
General Funston to the Secretary of War
1786. Following received from General Pershing and transmitted:
Dublan, Mexico, June 25, 1916, Number 291. Following message written by Captain Morey shortly after the Carrizal battle, found in hands of three men of Troop K, returning from Carrizal, and sent to Ojo Federico by Lieut. Meyers: “Carrizal, Mexico, June 21, 1916, 9.15 a.m. to C. O., Ojo Federico. My troop reached Ojo Santo Domingo at 5.30 p.m. June 20, met Troop G under Captain Boyd. I came under Captain Boyd’s command and marched my troop in rear for Carrizal at 4.15 a.m. Reached open field to southeast of town at 6.30 a.m. Captain Boyd sent in a note requesting permission to pass through town. This was refused. Stated we could go to north but not east. Captain Boyd said he was going to Ahumada at this time. He was talking with Carranza commander. General Gomez sent a written message that Captain Boyd could bring his force in town and have a conference. Captain Boyd feared an ambush. He was under the impression that the Mexicans would run as soon as we fired. We formed for attack, his intention being to move up to the line of about 120 Mexicans on edge of town. We formed mounted, C on left in line of foragers, one platoon on right line of foragers and other K Troop platoon on extreme right and echeloned a little to rear. When we were within 300 yards Captain Boyd dismounted to fight on foot. I did likewise. The Mexicans opened fire and a strong one before we fired a shot; then we opened up. They did not run, but, to make a long account short, after about an hours fire in which both troops advanced, C Troop to position of Mexican machine gun and K Troop closing in slightly to the left. We were very busy on the right keeping off flank attack. A group of Mexicans left town went around our rear and our lead horses left at a gallop. At about nine o’clock one platoon Trook K which was on right fell back. Sergeant said he could not stay there. Both platoons fell back about 1000 yards to the west and then together with some men of Troop C who were there these men scattered. I was slightly wounded. Captain Boyd, a man told me, was killed. Nothing was seen of Lieut. Adair after fight started, so man I saw stated. I am hiding in a hole 2000 yards from field and have one other wounded man and three men with me. Signed Morey, Captain”. The three men referred to by Morey are the three who had above message in their possession and the wounded man was from Troop C shot through the knee. Lieut. Meyers reports that the three men were rather vague as to where they had left Captain Morey. But stated that on the night of the 21st they had carried him back two miles from point where he was in hiding, that Morey became weak, could go no further and told them to leave him. The men thought he was dying from loss of blood and lack of water. Meyers reconnoitered 20 miles east of Santa Maria but found nothing. Out of grain and forage, horses in bad shape, had to return. Pershing.