Frontiere

1916 · 22513 — 1916. Mexico Border Wars United States and Mexican Border War photograph archive circa 1914-1916 documents military operations and occupation scenes produced during the period of armed confrontation between the United States and revolutionary Mexico in the years surrounding the Mexican Revolution. Created during the escalation of cross border conflict that followed the Tampico Affair and the subsequent United States occupation of Veracruz in April 1914 the photographs record American and Mexican troops engaged in urban combat military drills occupation ceremonies and field movements along the Gulf Coast and northern borderlands. The images provide visual documentation of the military campaign ordered by President Woodrow Wilson during a decade of instability in Mexico when revolutionary conflict cross border raids and American intervention shaped relations between the two nations.<br /> <br /> Archive of nineteen photographs created between approximately 1914 and 1916 primarily real photo postcards with one tintype portrait. Most photographs measure approximately 3.5 × 5.5 inches and several retain contemporary captions identifying locations and military activity. Scenes documenting the United States occupation of Veracruz include captions such as "The 5th Brigade U.S. Army Commanded by General Funston taking Possession of Vera Cruz April 30th 1914" and "Federal Mexican Soldiers Firing from Street Corner First Day of Battle April 21st." Additional images depict United States troops in training or formation including "U.S. Soldiers Hiking in the Sand Hills around Vera Cruz Mexico" "U.S. Army at Vera Cruz Mexico" and "Nebraska's Battalion." Mexican federal troops appear in photographs captioned "Serving Machine Guns" and assembled "for Grand Review Vera Cruz Mex." A dramatic real photo postcard titled "Firing Squad Mexico" depicts six riflemen firing upon a condemned prisoner kneeling at the water's edge. Another image captioned "Adobe House Destroyed by Artillery in Mexico" shows a bullet scarred building façade with mounted troops nearby. Panoramic troop movements appear in photographs captioned "Mexican Infantry entering Juárez Mex." and "Scene at Vera Cruz Mexico during Battle of April 21st and 22nd" the latter showing soldiers lying prone in firing positions. The archive also includes four hand colored patriotic "sweetheart" postcards sent by soldiers to loved ones bearing sentimental captions such as "Don't Forget the One You Left Behind." The tintype depicts an American soldier wearing a campaign hat and service uniform standing before a canvas tent. One postcard bears a lengthy manuscript letter written from McAllen Texas dated September 27 1916 in which the writer reports: "Still here! & it's hot! but I have a nice job and plenty to do. I love it and I'm sure you would enjoy it. It is a splendid experience and I am proud of the N.G. The flag is O.K. in our hands."<br /> <br /> These photographs emerge from the years of heightened tension along the United States Mexico border between 1910 and 1919 when revolutionary upheaval within Mexico and armed incursions across the frontier led to repeated military mobilization by the United States. The occupation of Veracruz in 1914 marked one of the most significant American interventions of the period and produced several days of street fighting between United States Marines Army units and Mexican defenders. Light handling wear to several cards with occasional corner creasing and one example with minor margin loss. Tintype shows light surface spotting but retains clear detail. Overall very good condition. The photographs collectively record both the violence of the conflict and the symbolic displays of military presence that accompanied the occupation including troop drills reviews and staged patriotic imagery circulated through postcards. unknown