The first call for Fredericksburg’s Co. K, 2nd VA National Guard was in answer
to a threat on our southern border with Mexico.

They are on the steps of the current Rappahannock Regional Library which at that time was
the High School for Fredericksburg. They mustered for this photo just before deploying for
duty on the Texas border at Brownsville TX. The VANG was called up when the situation on the border
deteriorated and American soldiers actually entered Mexican national lands to capture the revolutionary
and bandit Pancho Villa. Villa had raided across the border and taken American lives with no apparent
attempt by the Mexican government to end his raids.

Known as the Mexican Punitive Expedition General Blackjack Pershing pursued Villa without success into Mexico.
Identified are Capt. Gunyon Harrison (lower right) and Sgt. (soon to be promoted to Lt...)
Alexander Stone (back row, 3rd from left).

Harrison would become Fredericksburg’s postmaster after WWI and Stone would take Co. K to France and back in WWI.

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