[U.S. Soldiers]
Date: 1910/1920
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of a large group of soldiers in the middle of a field. Most of the soldiers are standing beside a horse, perhaps they were part of a cavalry unit. A truck, near the center of the photo is behind some soldiers. In the distance the outline of a mountain is seen. It resembles Mt. Franklin in El Paso. These men more than likely were traveling to one of the many Army camps located east and south of El Paso during the Mexican Revolution and the Punitive Expedition.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63373/
[MB-1 Bomber]
Date: 1918/1920
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of a Martin MB-1 Bomber being looked over by army personnel, civilians, and children. A service truck is parked against the bomber, perhaps providing fuel. The MB-1 Bomber was designed and built by the Glen L. Martin Company for the United States Army Air Service towards the end of WWI, making its debut in late 1918. The location of where the photo was taken has not been identified, although there is high possibility that it was taken at Fort Bliss field, as Mt. Franklin appears to be in the background.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63388/
[U.S. Army Personnel]
Date: 1910/1920
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of U.S. soldiers at what appears to be a temporary or impromptu headquarters or transfer center. Several residences are in the background and appear to surround the Army's array of military vehicles. On the left side of the photo, the wing of an airplane is visible. Several soldiers, young boys, and men are photographed walking about the premises. The location of where this photo was taken is more than likely El Paso, Texas. Note the slope of the mountain, it resembles that of the Franklin Mountains and what with Fort Bliss close by, the soldiers may have ventured off base for drills, etc.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63338/
[U.S. Cavalry Crossing Pontoon Bridge]
Date: June 16, 1919
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of U.S. Cavalry Brigade troops returning to the U.S. via a pontoon bridge from Juarez, Mexico on June 16, 1919. The U.S. Army wasted no time in going into Mexico once rifle shots from the revolution fell upon the El Paso Stockyards Building. In each pontoon boat is a soldier looking on as the line of cavalry troops and horses passes by. Information on the back of the photo reveals that this bridge was located near present day Ascarate Park (in the lower valley of El Paso). Once the 1919 Battle of Juarez was over, on the 16th of June, the Cavalry Brigade is said to have crossed the Rio Grande in the late afternoon on the pontoon bridge near the ford at Senecu. This photo more than likely captures the event.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63367/
[General Pershing in Formation]
Date: 1920~
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of General John J. Pershing and fellow army servicemen on horseback in formation. From the way the group is set up, with the unit's flags proudly displayed, it's apparent that they are not participating in a normal drill. The group appears to be part of a presentation of some sort. In the background, automobiles are lined up from side to side, indicating Pershing and staff has an audience. In the far distance, the outline of the Franklin Mountains is seen. A note on the back of the photo states that this photo of Pershing was taken on his first visit to El Paso after WWI in 1920. The photo was more than likely taken at Fort Bliss.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63399/
[Mexican Revolution Refugees]
Date: 1910/1920
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of refugees from the Mexican Revolution having just arrived at Fort Bliss. A woman holding the hand of a little girl is carrying a bundle of possessions as she leads the little girl and another young girl across the grounds of Fort Bliss. Walking beside them is an American soldier casually holding a rifle over his shoulder. Soldiers and a few local civilians look over the large group of refugees, comprised of men, women, and children, that are a few yards behind the woman and girls. In the distance, the cars of a train are seen and Mt. Franklin is in the background. The Mexican Revolution drove thousands of refugees across the U.S.-Mexico border seeking safety and peace. Refugees came from a variety of locations throughout Mexico. Many of those refugees found themselves held at the internment camp at Fort Bliss, such as the refugees in this photo. Unknown is where these individuals originated from in Mexico. Fort Bliss is known to have housed thousands of refugees from Ojinaga and Juarez.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63330/
[U.S. Soldiers on Guard]
Date: 1910/1920
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of U.S. soldiers and citizens on an unidentified street in El Paso, Texas. The soldiers are in front of two billboards, their rifles stacked into two prisms. They leisurely keep to their assigned location. Behind them a crowd appears to be waiting for passage as two soldiers are positioned at two ends of the crowd. Behind them, a trolley car is approaching. The street photographed may have been Santa Fe Street looking north from the international bridge entrance; Mt. Franklin can be seen to the right.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63363/
[Army Convoy]
Date: 1910/1920
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of an Army convoy, heading north on an unidentified street. It appears to be an artillery unit. The soldiers are traveling in a variety of ways. Some are on horseback, or are riding on trucks, while others are walking as they lead horses. Two soldiers on the left side of the photo are seen speaking to civilians. Spectators crowd the sidewalks to catch a glimpse of the convoy. The mountain in the background appears to be Mt. Franklin; however, unclear is whether the photo was taken in El Paso, Texas or Juarez, Mexico.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63359/
[Construction of Pontoon Bridge]
Date: June 1919
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of a pontoon bridge being constructed across the Rio Grande near present day Ascarate Park (lower valley of El Paso) in June 1919. This photo was taken around the last Battle of Juarez (June 15-16, 1919). Soldiers can be seen maneuvering pontoons in the Rio Grande toward the bridge site. On the left side of the photo, soldiers are laying planks across the pontoons. Colonel Selah R. H. "Tommy" Tompkins led the 2nd Cavalry Brigade across three bridges, including this one, into Mexico during the 1919 Battle of Juarez to disperse both revolutionary and federal forces after rifle shots hit the El Paso Stockyards Building, the army's artillery command headquarters at the time. The 2nd Cavalry Brigade crossed the Rio Grande at three fords: San Lorenzo, Senecu, and Zambrano. The pontoon bridge being constructed in the photo more than likely was located at or near the ford of Senecu, as Senecu is said to have been across Ascarate.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63368/
[Construction of a Plank Bridge]
Date: June 1919
Creator: Aultman, Otis A.
Description: Photograph of engineers in the U.S. Army building a plank bridge along the Rio Grande. According to information on the back of the photo, the photo was taken in June 1919, around the last Battle of Juarez (June 15-16, 1919). The plank bridge also is said to have led to a pontoon bridge not visible in the photo. The 2nd Cavalry Brigade would ultimately use this bridge and two others to cross over into Mexico during the 1919 Battle of Juarez.
Contributing Partner: El Paso Public Library
Permallink:texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth63370/