The Valour of San Patricios Battalion

Around St. Patrick’s Day, people witness Irish symbols and colours of green and gold everywhere. One place in history where you might be surprised to see a green and gold Irish-themed military standard is in the 19th-century Mexican Army, but it happened. Today, in Mexico City, there stands a monument to a group called The San Patricios, comprised chiefly of Irish and German soldiers who fought and died in the Mexican-American war of 1846-1848.

The San Patricios (or The St. Patrick’s Battalion)—known in Spanish as el Batallón de Los San Patricios—was a Mexican army unit comprised primarily of Irish Catholics who had defected from the invading US army during the Mexican-American War.

The San Patricios was an elite artillery unit that inflicted great damage on the Americans during the battles of Buena Vista and Churubusco. It was led by Irish defector John Riley.

After the Battle of Churubusco, most battalion members were killed or captured. Most of those taken prisoners were hanged, and the majority of the others were branded and whipped. After the war, the unit lasted briefly before being disbanded.

The San Patricios were also called the Colorados or “Red Company” because many of them were redheaded. Though they carried a banner blazoned on one side with a figure of St. Patrick and on the other with a harp and the arms of Mexico, only a proportion was Irish or Roman Catholic. They came from every branch of the service: infantry, cavalry, and artillery.

The Mexican-American War

On May 13, 1846, the United States Congress declared war on Mexico after President James K. Polk requested it. Then, on May 26, 1848, both sides ratified the peace treaty ending the conflict. Between those dates, there was enough drama to last for generations and the appearance of some familiar names that would dominate the Civil War, from President Abraham Lincoln to General Robert E. Lee.

To save space and make a long story short, the conflict centred on the independent Republic of Texas, which opted to join the United States after establishing its independence from Mexico a decade earlier. Mexico didn’t like this at all and considered the annexation of Texas an act of war, and after border skirmishes, President Polk asked for the war declaration.

In the following fighting, the mostly volunteer United States military secured control of Mexico after a series of battles, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on 2 February 1848. It was the first large-scale success of a United States military force on foreign soil.

Irish Catholics in the USA

It started with the Irish famine of the mid-19th century. In October 1845, a blight devastated Ireland’s potatoes, ruining about three-quarters of the crop. The blight returned in 1846, and around 350,000 people died of starvation. An outbreak of typhus also ravaged the population, leading massive numbers of Irish to immigrate to America.

Many members of other faiths—Jews, Protestants, and even some Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists—arrived in the successive waves of massive immigration to the United States between the 1840s and 1920s. But Catholics from various countries like Ireland were the most numerous—and the most noticed.

In 1846, thousands of these Irish immigrants enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining the forces under General Zachary Taylor, who had an instrumental role in invading Mexico. In all, 4,811 Irish-born soldiers served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American conflict. After the war, the men were promised salaries and land to coerce them to fight, but the promises were often empty gestures.

Why did they switch sides? Well, several theories have been proposed as to why the men deserted to Mexico – everything from being forced to attend Protestant Mass to cultural alienation in the US. The most subscribed theory is that in Mexico, Irish defectors were treated as heroes and allowed promotion denied them in the American army. Many felt a greater connection to Mexico: like Ireland, it was a poor Catholic nation. The allure of the church bells announcing mass must have been great for these soldiers far from home.

The War Begins

Not all the San Patricios were deserters from the U.S. Army. Though mainly composed of Catholic Irish and some German immigrants, the battalion included Canadians, English, French, Italians, Poles, Scots, Spanish, Swiss and Mexican soldiers – many of whom were Catholic.

In May 1846, O’Reilly and several dozen men under his command first skirmished with the Americans at the siege of Fort Texas. Four months later, on 21 September 1846, the San Patricios first fought as a formal Mexican army unit, providing artillery support and adding to their reputation for handling heavy weaponry. The San Patricios’ green battle flag displayed an Irish harp surrounded by the Mexican coat-of-arms with a scroll reading “Freedom for the Mexican Republic” and the Gaelic motto “Erin go Brágh” (“Ireland forever”).

On February 23rd 1847, they acquitted themselves well at the Battle of Buena Vista against the superior guns of the US army, also known as the Battle of Angostura. The San Patricios again played a prominent role. During the battle, two six-powder cannons belonging to the U.S. Fourth Artillery were captured by Mexican forces due to the intense fire from the San Patricio artillerymen. Several San Patricios, including Juan O’Reilly, were subsequently promoted to the rank of El Capitan.

The Americans eventually attacked on August 20, 1847, at the Battle of Churubusco, where the San Patricios were eventually holed up in a local convent. Their Mexican compatriots repeatedly tried to raise a white flag to surrender, but each time, the men of Saint Patrick’s Battalion ripped it down. Once their last bullet was spent, the San Patricios finally surrendered, with some having escaped into Mexico City but many others captured by the Americans.

After the war ended, U.S. military justice was brutal. Of the 83 San Patricios captured, O’Reilly and 71 San Patricios were court-martialed. Fifty of the San Patricios were sentenced to be hanged, and 16 were flogged and branded. Collectively, it was the largest mass execution in United States history—with the hanging of 38 Sioux Native Americans 15 years later the only event to come close to that number.

The Human Dimension

Beyond their story’s strategic and political aspects, the San Patricios Battalion represents a profoundly human tale of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. These men, far from their homeland, faced a difficult choice: to continue serving in an army where they were mistreated and made to fight against their religious and cultural kin or to risk everything by switching sides and fighting for what they believed to be a just cause.

Their decision to join the Mexican forces was not taken lightly. It involved significant personal risk and the possibility of severe repercussions. Yet, they chose to stand by their principles and fight for a cause they believed in. This sense of moral conviction and willingness to face hardship for their beliefs underscores the enduring legacy of the San Patricios.

Modern Reflections

In recent years, the San Patricios Battalion’s contributions and sacrifices have been growingly recognized. Historians and scholars have shed new light on their story, challenging the simplistic narratives of treachery that once dominated American accounts. This reassessment has led to a more nuanced understanding of the battalion’s historical place.

The story of the San Patricios also resonates with contemporary discussions about immigration, identity, and loyalty. Their experience highlights the challenges immigrants face in a new land, the struggle for acceptance, and their often difficult choices. It serves as a reminder of the complexities of national identity and the multifaceted nature of patriotism.

Commemoration and Cultural Impact

The San Patricios Battalion has been immortalised in various forms of cultural expression. In addition to monuments and memorials in Mexico, their story has been told through literature, music, and film. These cultural representations help to keep their memory alive and provide a platform for exploring the broader themes of their experience.

One notable example is the song “San Patricios” by the Irish-American folk-punk band The Tossers, which pays tribute to the battalion’s bravery and sacrifice. The battalion has also been featured in films such as “One Man’s Hero” (1999), which dramatizes its story and brings its experiences to a wider audience.

These cultural portrayals play a crucial role in shaping public perception and ensuring that the legacy of the San Patricios is not forgotten. They provide a means for future generations to connect with this critical historical chapter and reflect on its significance.

Conclusion

The San Patricios Battalion is a testament to the complexity of history and the enduring power of human conviction. Their story is of bravery and sacrifice, driven by a quest for justice and fair treatment. While their actions were controversial and often misunderstood, the San Patricios left an indelible mark on the Mexican-American War and the broader narrative of 19th-century geopolitics.

Their legacy challenges us to reconsider our understanding of loyalty, patriotism, and the immigrant experience. It reminds us that history is not simply a tale of nations and battles but a tapestry of individual stories, each driven by unique motivations and shaped by personal experiences. The valour of the San Patricios Battalion, though often overlooked, deserves to be remembered and honoured for its profound impact on history.

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