New Mexico National Guard in Columbus

Following Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, members of the New Mexico National Guard were ordered into service to guard the U.S./Mexican border during the Mexican Punitive Expedition. Edwin L. Holt, of Las Cruces, was stationed at the Base of Communications, Office of the Quartermaster, in Columbus, New Mexico. The documents he collected give us a small snapshot of life at the camp, which supplied the troops in Mexico with food, clothing, weapons, and ammunition.

• Base Telephone Directory (jpg)
• Disposition of Fire Ladders (jpg)
• Telegraphic Orders, March 10, 1916 (jpg) (text)
• Orders, March 10, 1916 (jpg) (text)
• General Orders, November 25, 1916 (jpg) (text)
• Office Orders, November 29, 1916 (jpg) (text)
• Memorandum (regarding leave of absence), December 1, 1916, page 1: (jpg), page 2: (jpg), page 3: (jpg)
• Memorandum (regarding civilian medical care), December 1, 1916 (jpg) (text)
• Memorandum (regarding Christmas tree), December 13, 1916 (jpg) (text)
• Memorandum (regarding leave of absence), December 15, 1916 (jpg) (text)
• Memorandum, December 19, 1916 (jpg)
• Invitation, December 22, 1916 (jpg)
• Memorandum Orders, January 3, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum, January 4, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum, January 6, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum, January 8, 1917, page 1: (jpg), page 2: (jpg), page 3: (jpg), page 4: (jpg)
• Memorandum Orders, January 12, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum Orders, January 22, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum, January 23, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum, January 25, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum, January 26, 1917 (jpg)
• Invitation, January 30, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum, January 30, 1917 (jpg)
• Telegram, February 4, 1917 (jpg)
• Invitation, February 6, 1917 (jpg)
• Memorandum, February 10, 1917 (jpg)
• News story, March 12, 1917 (jpg)
• Personnel Memorandum, August 1918, page 1: (jpg), page 2: (jpg)
• Memorandum, December 15, 1918 (jpg)

Source of photo and documents: Collection of the City of Las Cruces Museum System