Capture of Mexicali
Encyclopedia
The Capture of Mexicali, or the Battle of Mexicali was the first action of the Mexican Revolution
taken by rebel Magonista
s against the federal Mexican
government of Porfirio Diaz
. Under the direction of Ricardo Flores Magón
, a group of rebels captured the border town of Mexicali with little resistance.
, chose early 1911 as the time to begin an insurrection. All across Mexico, revolution was breaking out and the federal Mexican Army
was losing the fight. The P.L.M. junta
in California chose the small border town of Mexicali for taking. Access to the border would allow P.L.M. forces to more easily recruit American
volunteers and resupply their forces.
The junta appointed the gunsmith
Jose Maria Leyva to command the Magonista force of seventeen other men. Leyva had been in the 1906 strike at Cananea
and was a strong anti-government protester. A half Mexican and half German
socialist named Simon Berthold was second in command. Other reasons for the choosing of Mexicali was due to its strategic location; far from Mexico City
and large bodies of federal troops. The Magonistas also hoped to capture the revenue collected by Mexican customs agents in the town.
The second group headed for the home of the chief of police and quickly took command of the structure and the chief. The third force under Jose Leyva attacked the jail house where the only shot of the engagement was fired. Jailer Jose Villanova refused to give the rebels the keys to the jail cells. He was shot dead after cocking his pistol behind the door of his office, the Magonistas heard the cock and fired into the building. Ten Mexican policemen were captured at the jail. Villanova became the only casualty of the operation. After capturing the jail the event was over, the prisoners were freed and nine of whom joined the Magonsitas.
Tijuana
on May 9 before being defeated just south of the town during another engagement
.
Defeated, the rebels held no more territory and disbanded or escaped into California.
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
taken by rebel Magonista
Ricardo Flores Magón
Cipriano Ricardo Flores Magón was a noted Mexican anarchist and social reform activist. His brothers Enrique and Jesús were also active in politics. Followers of the Magón brothers were known as Magonistas....
s against the federal Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
government of Porfirio Diaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
. Under the direction of Ricardo Flores Magón
Ricardo Flores Magón
Cipriano Ricardo Flores Magón was a noted Mexican anarchist and social reform activist. His brothers Enrique and Jesús were also active in politics. Followers of the Magón brothers were known as Magonistas....
, a group of rebels captured the border town of Mexicali with little resistance.
Background
Ricardo Flores Magón and his brother Enrique had a long history of anti-government and pro-socialist incidents before beginning the revolt of 1911. Magon, who was the leader of the Partido Liberal Mexicano in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, chose early 1911 as the time to begin an insurrection. All across Mexico, revolution was breaking out and the federal Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
was losing the fight. The P.L.M. junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
in California chose the small border town of Mexicali for taking. Access to the border would allow P.L.M. forces to more easily recruit American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
volunteers and resupply their forces.
The junta appointed the gunsmith
Gunsmith
A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds firearms. This occupation is different from an armorer. The armorer primarily maintains weapons and limited repairs involving parts replacement and possibly work involving accurization...
Jose Maria Leyva to command the Magonista force of seventeen other men. Leyva had been in the 1906 strike at Cananea
Cananea strike
The Cananea Strike, also known as the Cananea Riot, or the Cananea Massacre, took place in the Mexican mining town of Cananea, Sonora, in June 1906...
and was a strong anti-government protester. A half Mexican and half German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
socialist named Simon Berthold was second in command. Other reasons for the choosing of Mexicali was due to its strategic location; far from Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and large bodies of federal troops. The Magonistas also hoped to capture the revenue collected by Mexican customs agents in the town.
Capture
At dawn on January 29, the eighteen Magonistas were led by Leyva across the border into California, there, just across the international line the Magonistas found an arms cache and stocked themselves with about sixty rifles, some pistols, and several thousand rounds of ammunition. They then headed back across the border the outskirts of Mexicali and divided into three groups. The rebels then readied their weapons and attacked. The first group was led by Berthold who stormed the custom house and captured the two sleeping officers.The second group headed for the home of the chief of police and quickly took command of the structure and the chief. The third force under Jose Leyva attacked the jail house where the only shot of the engagement was fired. Jailer Jose Villanova refused to give the rebels the keys to the jail cells. He was shot dead after cocking his pistol behind the door of his office, the Magonistas heard the cock and fired into the building. Ten Mexican policemen were captured at the jail. Villanova became the only casualty of the operation. After capturing the jail the event was over, the prisoners were freed and nine of whom joined the Magonsitas.
Aftermath
The two customs officer paid the Magonistas $385.00 for their freedom, they were released into California. Of the ten captured policemen, seven were freed and ran across the border into California with only their underwear. After the capture of Mexicali, the Magonista force quickly grew from eighteen to over 400 men, most of whom were white American citizens. The Magonista Campaign began at Mexicali, from there the rebels marched on an capturedFirst Battle of Tijuana
The First Battle of Tijuana was an early engagement of the Mexican Revolution and the first significant victory for the Magonistas. Tijuana was captured and held by rebel forces on May 9, 1911 and was used as a haven for recruiting American volunteers from California.-Background:The tourist port of...
Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
on May 9 before being defeated just south of the town during another engagement
Second Battle of Tijuana
The Second Battle of Tijuana was fought during the Mexican Revolution in June 1911. The opposing sides were rebel Magonistas and federal Mexican troops of President Francisco León de la Barra with American militia volunteers from Los Angeles, California...
.
Defeated, the rebels held no more territory and disbanded or escaped into California.