Orozco Defeats Mexican Federals.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 24, 1912:
Force Sent Against Rebels at Ascencion Is Trapped and Commander Captured.
CASAS GRANDES ALSO TAKEN
Rebels Now Control Northwestern Railroad — Fourteen Federal Prisoners Executed in Ascencion.
    EL PASO, Dec. 23.— Casas Grandes, the most important town in the ranching and lumbering district southwest of Juarez, it was reported to-day, has been taken by rebels, commanded by Gen. Pascual Orozco, Jr.
    It was also announced that a column of 800 men, marching against the rebels at Ascencion, was defeated. The Federal Commander, Gen. José Blanco, was taken prisoner.
    Confirming this report, S. D. Ambrose, an American hotel man of Columbus, N.M., arrived here to-day. He was in Ascencion at the time of its capture last Wednesday and talked with Gen. Salazar, whose forces took the town. While there a messenger arrived directly from Gen. Orozco with a letter from the rebel leader, saying that he had taken Casas Grandes and defeated Blanco.
    Blanco's force was trapped, the official rebel report said, in a canyon north of Casas Grandes. Aside from capturing many rifles and much ammunition, the rebels obtained two cannon. Details of the battles are lacking, but Casas Grandes was taken easily, Orozco wrote, as the Federals left only 200 men to protect the town.
    By taking Casas Grandes, the scene of a hard struggle in the Madero revolution in which the rebels were repulsed, the Orozco revolutionists control the Mexico Northwestern Railway, which runs between Juarez on the border, and Chihuahua City, the State capital. The territory tributary to the American railway, which includes the Pearson syndicate's lumbering towns of Pearson and Madera, and the San Pedro mining district, is also brought under rebel rule. The railway wires are not operating west from Chihuahua City nor below Juarez, and no railway confirmation of the town's fall could be got.
    The attack was made on old Casas Grandes, the largest town in the district. The railway officers and American homes are at the new town, some miles away, and it is believed that no foreigners were injured.
    Fourteen Federal prisoners, including a Captain, were executed in the public plaza, Ascencion, refugees reported today. Major L. C. Quinteros, the Ascencion Federal commander, who escaped, has arrived at the New Mexican border with one soldier as companion. He is held by United States troops below Hachita.