Freestone County, Texas
Reflections


Freestone Past/Present
J.R. Sonny” Sessions

  Recently Peg and I spent a few pleasant days with friends Barbara and 
Gordon Johnson in Ruidosa, New Mexico. Gordon now retired as Executive 
Director of Sheriffs Assn. Of Texas Gordon and I visited Columbus, New 
Mexico on the Mexican Border. Man today never heard of Columbus a small
village or know its importance in WW I and WWII.
  In January l916 Mexican Revolutionary Chief in Chihuahua General 
Pancho Villa invaded this village on the US and Mexican Border, this 
followed a train robbery a short time before where l7 US Mining Engineers 
were executed. All this probably brought about by poor State Dept. 
judgment (for which we are noted) in supporting another Mexican leader
  In the early hours of Jan. l6th, l9i6 some 500 “Villistas” of Pancho Villa’s 
army attacked, robbed, raped, and murdered citizens of Columbus and a 
small US Army base here. About l00 US Calvary horses were stolen with 
about that many dead Villistas left behind. Villa had about 5,000 men with 
him but only arms and ammunition for the 500. it is also believed a         
merchant in Columbus had cheated Villa on a gun and ammunition deal, the 
merchant was lucky and out of town..
  President Wilson ordered General Black Jack Pershing on a punitive 
expedition into Mexico after Pancho Villa and his forces. Columbus became 
the headquarters of this operation with some l0, 000 US Army and Calvary 
sent here on the edge of the Chihuahua Desert
  Over some months Pershing and his forces went some 500 miles into 
Mexico looking for Villa with little success. Some of the expedition reported 
spending more time looking for shade than Pancho Villa. The Villistas 
simply vanished into the desert wilderness with little contact made.  
Freestone Co. and our area represented in this expedition, knew and visited 
with several who participated, one in the Medical Corps told of the Calvary 
roping civilians who were scared of them and then him giving cholera and 
other inoculations to help prevent disease among the population and troops.
  In this futile operation many US Military first’s were made. This the first 
time aircraft used, with little success for observation due to the mountain 
flying which the aircraft not made for. The first armored motor vehicles 
(similar to the later tanks), General George Patton probably introduced to 
them here where he serving as a junior officer. The first mobilized units with 
trucks, motorcycles and machine gun equipped motor vehicles were used. 
All this helped the US prepare for the coming war in Europe and France. 
Most of the Major Generals in WWII were trained and involved here.  Most 
all served as Junior Officers in the River Campaign (Rio Grande) during this 
period.
  General John J. Pershing went on to lead the US forces in WWI in France 
and returned a National Hero.  After WWI Gen. Pershing visited the Mexia 
Oil Field and Col. Humphries one of its leaders. Lavish parties were held in 
the area, especially at the Confederate Reunion Grounds and Poco Club.
  This my second time to visit Columbus, the first time son Ken and I drove 
thru on our way to Nogales, Arizona some years ago.

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                     Grandpa’s Report
  Interesting Freestone Co. Historical Commission Annual Christmas dinner 
and meeting at the resurrected Cottonwood Terrace. This facility built as a 
retreat, by a now deceased friend of the past. In bad repair for some time, 
has been remodeled and restored by Columbus and June Long. A short 
program on its history discussed. Years ago the group involved in its early  
years wrote a song and had it published, I think the name was “Out at the 
Cottonwood Terrace”, if any one should have a copy of this the Longs 
would greatly appreciate copying it.
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