Once headquarters replied that the train must return to Juárez, 2,000 men led by Villa hid aboard the now empty cargo cars and entered the city without detection around 2:00 am on November 15.

Domestically, the battle helped to restore the Division del Norte's morale and faith in the leadership of Villa, both of which had been strained by the disastrous assault on Ciudad Chihuahua.

[1] Quickly gaining followers and power in Northwestern Chihuahua, Villa accepted an offer to recognize the governor of Coahuila, Venustiano Carranza, as the leader of the revolution.

Due to the ineptitude of the federal commanders in the region and the excellent discipline and morale of the rebel troops, Torreón fell quickly to a series of day and night attacks.

The victory at the battle of Torreón provided the Division del Norte with a large volume of arms and ammunition and enabled the formation of a substantial artillery company.

[2] Villa's forces tried to storm the city through frontal assault for three days but gained no ground and lost significant quantities of men and ammunition against the staunch federal defensive line.

The attempt had wasted a significant portion of the Division's ammunition, and had shaken the trust in Villa's leadership that was binding the former rebel bands of Chihuahua and Durango into a unified fighting force.

[1] However, both options were made risky by the existence of the powerful federal garrison in Chihuahua, which could be mobilized to relieve or recapture any siege initiated by the Division del Norte.

The garrison's morale was strong, as Ciudad Juárez was considered exceptionally well defended, both by its significant physical fortifications, and its location across the Rio Grande from the US city of El Paso.

[2][1] This confidence, when combined with news of Villa's presence near Ciudad Chihuahua meant that many of the federal troops were fully invested in the countless bars, brothels and gambling joints of Juárez when the rebel train rolled into the city.

The federal force in Ciudad Chihuahua still rivalled Villa's Division del Norte in size and equipment and were in high spirits thanks to their successful defence of the state capital.

This force's prior success had federal authorities convinced that a reverse of the situation was possible, and a strong expedition was sent north to retake Ciudad Juárez under the command of General Refugio Velesco.

Along with the obvious gain in ammunition and arms captured from the federal troops, the victory provided an important boost to the morale of the Division del Norte and helped to repair their faith in Villa after the failed attack on Ciudad Chihuahua.