The Irish defectors who fought for freedom and for Mexico

The men of the Saint Patrick’s Batallion, besides known arsenic Los Patricios, were a radical of soldiers who defected from the U.S. Army to combat for Mexico during the Mexican-American War.  Known for their bravery and valor, the men — most, but not all, Irish — fought with favoritism and are honored contiguous successful some Mexico and Ireland.

John Riley, Irishman, Catholic and rifleman par excellence

Rural County Galway successful occidental Ireland, wherever John Riley was born. (Discover Ireland)

John Riley was calved successful County Galway, successful occidental Ireland, sometime betwixt 1805 and 1818. At the time, Ireland was portion of the United Kingdom and profoundly poor, adjacent earlier the large famine of 1845. As with galore Irishmen of the era, Riley made his mode to Canada and yet to Michigan successful the United States. He was an fantabulous artilleryman and joined the U.S. Army, wherever helium was stationed astatine Fort Mackinac to bid West Point cadets.

Riley became disillusioned with the United States. There was a batch of anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiment, speech of occidental expansionism and warfare with Mexico. Immigrants successful the service were treated precise harshly. He was yet sent to Texas wherever helium promptly deserted the U.S. Army connected April 12, 1846, slipping crossed the borderline to Mexico and offering his services to the Mexican army. 

James K. Polk and Manifest Destiny

President James K. Polk believed successful Manifest Destiny, an ideology that embraced the thought that achromatic Americans were divinely ordained to settee the full continent of North America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Not each Americans, particularly Northerners and Irish immigrants, agreed with Manifest Destiny, and they did not privation a warfare with Mexico. Many felt that his plans were simply an effort to grow U.S. territory to summation the fig of enslaved states.

President James K. Polk, who oversaw the enlargement of the United States successful the mid-19th century. (White House Historical Association)

When Polk sent troops to the disputed territory successful Texas, his critics became much outspoken believing this would pb to warfare with Mexico. Then-Congressman Abraham Lincoln argued that “President James Polk sent American subject forces into the disputed territory to intentionally provoke a subject effect from Mexico, who was conscionable defending their homeland from an invasion.”

Why did Irish Immigrants defect to Mexico?

Riley was welcomed by the Mexican army. When warfare broke out, helium was promoted to Lieutenant and fixed support to signifier a portion comprised of Irishmen who would godforsaken the U.S. Army and articulation the Mexican Army. Riley rapidly persuaded 48 different Irish immigrants to godforsaken and articulation his portion successful the Mexican Army. Most of them were besides traumatized by the Irish Potato Famine and sectarian British policies that devalued Irish beingness and privileged Protestants implicit Catholics backmost astatine home. Many besides experienced anti-Catholic bigotry successful the U.S. Army. They were seen arsenic lazy, ignorant and foolish, truthful they were fixed the astir unsafe jobs. 

Mexico sees an opportunity

The conflict emblem of the Patricios. (Wikimedia)

Seeing an opportunity, Mexico began actively recruiting immigrants successful the U.S. Army — offering promotions, onshore ownership, wage increases, and spiritual freedom. Riley’s portion of Irishmen grew to 200.  They were joined by immigrants from Germany, Poland, and France who were besides disenchanted by the wide bigotry against Catholics successful the United States and felt a fierce loyalty to Catholicism. The committedness of onshore and wealth besides attracted escaped slaves and escaped Blacks who saw Mexico — which had outlawed slavery — arsenic a freer state than the United States.

Riley named their portion the St. Patrick’s Battalion — known successful Mexico arsenic the San Patricios — in grant of Ireland’s patron saint.  The men recruited were each skilled artillerymen and were assigned to Riley’s battalion. They marched nether a greenish banner with an representation of St. Patrick connected 1 broadside and a harp and emblem of Mexico connected the other.  Their ranks swelled from 200 to 700 and they were considered immoderate of the astir fearless and skilled soldiers successful the Mexican Army.

The San Patricios go heroes

The San Patricios demonstrated their bravery successful Northern Mexico and played a large relation successful the Battle of Buena Vista successful Coahuila successful February 1847. When decision was imminent successful the battle, the St. Patrick’s Battalion provided screen for the Mexican forces’ harmless retreat. Several were awarded the Cross of Honor medal for their heroism, including Riley who was promoted to captain.

When the Americans opened different beforehand further south, the San Patricios accompanied General Antonio López de Santa Anna to Mexico City wherever they made a sanction for themselves astatine the Battle of Chapultepec, arsenic Mexican forces tried successful vain to support the castle from encroaching U.S. forces.

Most of the defenders were killed oregon captured successful the defeat. John Riley was among the 85 San Patricios captured during the battle. They were court-martialed, astir were recovered blameworthy of desertion and 50 were condemned to beryllium executed by hanging. 

Riley was the highest illustration San Patricio but was spared hanging due to the fact that it was established that helium had deserted earlier the warfare began — a little superior discourtesy — but was punished harshly.  His caput was shaved, helium was fixed much than 50 lashes and was branded connected some cheeks with a “D” for deserter.  He was past thrown into a dungeon for the remainder of the war.

The execution of the San Patricios was the largest ever ordered by the U.S. military.  Col. William Selby Harney — a antheral known for his cruelty and brutality — was ordered to transportation retired the hanging. He brutally hung each 50 men astatine the aforesaid clip facing Chapultepec Castle truthful they could ticker the emblem of the United States being raised implicit Chapultepec earlier being executed. The emblem was raised astatine 9:30 americium connected September 13, 1847, and the men were executed. Harney, answering to criticism, said, “I was ordered to person them hanged and I had nary orders to unhang them.”

Despite warring bravely against U.S. forces, Los Patricios were yet defeated a the conflict of Chapultepec. (Irish Central)

No 1 knows what happened to John Riley, but helium is presumed to person died successful 1850.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed connected February 2, 1848, officially ending the war.  The United States paid Mexico US $18 cardinal and received astir fractional of the Mexican territory including California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, and astir of Arizona and Colorado.

In his memoirs, soon earlier his death, Ulysses S. Grant would picture the Mexican-American War arsenic “the astir unjust warfare ever waged by a stronger federation against a weaker nation.  It was an lawsuit of a republic pursuing the atrocious illustration of European monarchies successful not considering justness successful their tendency to get further territories.”

The San Patricios are heroes successful some Ireland and Mexico

John Riley is considered a large leader successful some Ireland and Mexico. The San Patricios themselves person earned a spot of grant successful Mexican history. Statues of Riley person been erected and plaques honoring the San Patricios placed successful some countries. Streets person been named for them and determination are yearly tributes to grant them.

On the 150th day of the Battalion’s instauration Ireland and Mexico jointly issued identical postage stamps with flags of some countries honoring their heroism and legacy. At the aforesaid time, Mexico inscribed gold-lettered words honoring the Battalion connected the Wall of Honor located successful the Chamber of Deputies of the Mexican Congress.

The Irish set The Chieftains recorded a opus to grant the San Patricios, “March to Battle,” narrated by Liam Neeson.

The U.S. subject denied the beingness of the St. Patrick’s Battalion for 60 years until a 1915 legislature enquiry revealed a coverup of their history.

Sheryl Losser is a erstwhile nationalist relations executive, researcher, writer and editor. She has been penning professionally for 35 years. She moved to Mazatlán successful 2021 and works part-time doing freelance writing. She tin beryllium reached at [email protected] and at Mexico: a Rich Tapestry of History and Culture.