File No. 812.00/19252
General Funston to the Secretary of War
2918. Following received from General Bell:
Evidence increases to show that Villa was completely successful in his attack Saturday upon Chihuahua and accomplished all and more than he said he would do. There is diversity of opinion and statements as to the number of men with which he entered Chihuahua, some accounts state he only had about 500 while others gave him 1,700 but all agree that he was able to secure possession of the penitentiary, the Governor’s palace and the Federal buildings and held them for several hours and all this with a Carranza garrison at Chihuahua which no one places at less than 6,000. He liberated over 200 prisoners, secured and carried away more than 16 automobile loads of arms and ammunition and actually took out artillery under an escort of deserting Carranza troops. He left Chihuahua with from 1,000 to 1,500 more men than he entered with. Villa retired leisurely and practically without molestation. The firing by Treviños artillery occurred after Villa troops had withdrawn. On September 14 Treviño received a letter from Villa stating that he, Villa, would be in Chihuahua to shake hands with Treviño on the 16th and he hoped that he would have a suitable reception for him, that he might be hungry and would like to have something to eat. On the 15th of September it is reported that Villa personally entered Chihuahua, was seen by many of his friends there and reconnoitered the city. Of course he was in disguise. On the night of the 15th–16th Villa approached Chihuahua from a camp which he had maintained for two days within 22 miles of that city. After Villa columns had secured position [possession] of the penitentiary the Governor’s palace and the Federal buildings Villa himself went into the Governor’s palace, went to the main balcony, displayed his face and made a short speech which in substance was as follows: “Viva Mexico! You do not have your liberty; I will give you your [Page 610] liberty for I am your brother. I am going to return in a few days.” It appears there had been a banquet attended by most of Treviño’s officers and that about two o’clock this banquet was finished and most of the officers of the Carranza garrison were asleep. As soon as Treviño heard of the trouble he started towards the Governor’s palace but his personal escort deserted him and went over to Villa. The party that attacked the Federal building rode into the building on horseback and the guard there deserted to them. It is reported that many of the Carranza troops who were killed were killed by other Carranza troops probably as a result of artillery firing from Santa Rosa hill. Copy to Pershing.