Battle of Zacatecas | |||||||
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Part of the Mexican Revolution | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Pancho Villa | General Luís Medina Barrón | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
over 20,000 (estimate) | 7,000-15,000 (most likely 12,000) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1,200 - 3,000 (estimate) |
9,000 6,000 killed, 3,000 captured (estimate) |
The Battle of Zacatecas, also known as the Toma de Zacatecas ("Taking of Zacatecas"), was the bloodiest battle in the campaign to overthrow Mexican President Victoriano Huerta.[1] On June 23, 1914, Pancho Villa's División del Norte (Division of the North) decisively defeated the federal troops of General Luis Medina Barrón defending the town of Zacatecas. The great victory demoralized Huerta's supporters, leading to his resignation on July 15. However, the Toma de Zacatecas also marked the end of support of Villa's Division of the North from Constitutionalist leader Venustiano Carranza and US President Woodrow Wilson.