Irish America magazine - Oct/Nov '08 issue: The Legacy of the San Patricios Lives On , Stars of the South, The Legal 100, Roots: The Mighty Mahers, All Hail The Humble Spud! , Music: Still Fiddlin’ Away , The Real Bill , The Battle over Ulysses, Broadway's Irish Colleen
To
the Mexicans they were heroes.
To the Americans they were traitors.
They were recent Irish immigrants fleeing poverty and famine in Ireland who,
motivated by discrimination in their own ranks, a shared religion, and sympathy
for the cause, fought on the side of Mexico in the U.S.-Mexican war of
1846-1848.
By Robert Salas
The war between the United States and Mexico had two causes: “Manifest Destiny,”
the desire of the U.S. to expand its territories under the belief that Americans
had a God-given right and duty to “civilize the whole continent,” and the Texas
War of Independence.
In 1844, with the election of President James K. Polk, an avowed expansionist,
the United States embarked on a course to acquire the lands west to the Pacific
Ocean. Polk had authorized his envoy John Slidell to offer $5 million for Texas,
$5 million for New Mexico and up to $25 million for California, but the offers
were refused by Mexico. Slidell’s formal instructions were to negotiate, adjust
boundaries and other causes of differences under fair and equitable principles.
To the Mexicans this meant, “Accept our terms or face the consequences.”
Many Mexicans still refused to accept the annexation of Texas to the U.S. in
1836 under the Treaty of Velasco which was signed by General Santa Anna.
Captured in the battle of San Jacinto, Santa Anna was a prisoner of the Texans
at the time of the signing.
After many savage border fights, Texas decided to join the United States on July
4, 1845. Mexico was not happy with its breakaway province, which now claimed the
border at the Rio Grande River. A major international issue and a tense standoff
ensued.
On
April 2, 1846, a clash occurred between Mexican and American troops on soil that
was claimed by both.
President Polk, in his declaration of war, stated that, “American blood had been
shed on American soil.” In truth, the war had been planned even before the news
of the Mexican attack on the American patrol had been received.
Despite early popularity, the war had its opponents. There was great opposition
to the war by the Whig Party and some members of the U.S. Army. Ulysses S.
Grant, later General Grant, wrote in his memoirs, “I was bitterly opposed to the
Annexation of Texas measure, and to this day regard the war that resulted, as
one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was
an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in
not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory.”
Former President John Quincy Adams described the war as a Southern expedition to
find “bigger pens to cram with slaves,” and Whig congressman from Illinois
Abraham Lincoln disputed the location of the skirmish as being American soil and
submitted “Spot Resolutions” to Congress.
In order to fight the war, Congress authorized 50,000 troops and $10 million.
The offer for volunteers was ten dollars a month with three months advance pay
and 160 acres of farmland. Volunteers, including thousands of Irish immigrants
newly arrived from famine-stricken Ireland, swarmed the recruiting centers and
quotas were filled within weeks.
The San Patricios
Mexico
was not to be outdone in terms of recruitment. General Santa Anna encouraged
American soldiers to fight on the Mexican side with offers of cash in dollars
and 200-acre grants of land. They could retain their rank and pay grade and
fight under the leadership of fellow American officers.
Estimates as high as 9,000 soldiers deserted from the American army during the
Mexican war and many later vanished into the Mexican countryside.
The Irish deserters joined together and, under the leadership of Irish-born John
Riley, formed the San Patricio Battalion.
The San Patricios created their own military banner with Saint Patrick on one
side and a shamrock and the harp of Erin on the other. The reasons given for
desertion were bad treatment and poor subsistence they received from
non-Catholic members of the American Army. Being Catholics, they also resented
the bad treatment given to Mexican civilians, priests and nuns after the war
started.
The
San Patricios fought in the five major battles against the Americans, which
included Matamoros, May 3, 1846, Monterrey, Sept. 21, 1846, Buena Vista, Feb.
22, 1847, Cerro Gordo, April 17, 1847 and Churubusco, August 20, 1847. After the
battle of Buena Vista, the San Patricios gained recognition as a Mexican
fighting unit to be reckoned with. They gained the grudging respect of the
American Army.
Churubusco was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Mexican War. The
superior tactics and strategy of the American Army, which included Military
Academy-trained officers, accurate and fast-loading artillery and the U.S.
Army’s 1841 percussion rifle, helped make the assault on the fortress-convent of
San Mateo at Churubusco a success. Equipment alone does not win battles; it was
the blood and guts of the American soldiers and marines under the command of
Major General Winfield Scott that contributed to this victory.
The Castle of Chapultepec, located southwest of Mexico City, was heavily
fortified and was a military obstacle that had to be taken prior to entering the
city. The castle had been the resort of Aztec princes and since 1833 had served
as Mexico’s military academy. The phrase “From the Halls of Montezuma” in the
U.S. Marine Corps hymn is based on the battle of Chapultepec. The castle was
stormed by a mixed force of American soldiers and marines. About 50 young
Mexican cadets refused to leave and — some of them younger than 13 — confronted
a bayonet charge. An American correspondent described the youths as “fighting
like demons” as some of them fell to their death over the castle wall to the
rocks below. They were later immortalized by their countrymen as “Los Ninos
Heroicos” — the heroic children.
The
story of the San Patricios has been shrouded in legend so the numbers mentioned
in this article may have some variation. It was reported that the victory by the
Americans led to the capture of the San Patricios, which included Mexican Brevet
Major John Riley. It is estimated that as many as 260 San Patricios fought
alongside the Mexicans in the battle of Churubusco; 72 were taken prisoners; the
rest escaped or were killed in action. General Santa Anna commented, “a few
hundred more men like them and we would have won the battle” and praised them
for their proficiency and bravery.
Their capture by the Americans led to a verdict of “guilty of desertion” and
punishments ranged from two hundred lashes, branding of “D” for desertion, or
death by hanging. The penalty of death was not unusual punishment, since most
armies imposed a death penalty for desertion during a time of war. Of the fifty
sentenced to death, “sixteen were hung by the neck until dead” and two days
later, the remaining San Patricios faced the firing squad. The sentences of
Mexican Brevet Major John Riley and eleven others were commuted by General Scott
because they had deserted before the war with Mexico had been officially
declared.
Mexico honored the San Patricios with medals, memorial plaques and annual
ceremonies. The U.S. Army regarded them as deserters and traitors, who deserved
the punishment they received.
The Irishmen, who had never formed much devotion to America due to the treatment
they had received, were unfortunate in choosing the losing side. This did not
diminish their bravery, since heroism can surface in the heat of battle on
either side of a conflict. The bond of friendship between the Irish and Mexicans
still exists, and if you visit Mexico and run across some Mexicans with Irish
surnames, they may be descendants of San Patricio Battalion soldiers that
escaped from the battle of Churubusco.
Ties That Last to This Day
The
goodwill that sprouted as a result of the Irish soldiers fighting in the Mexican
forces has been embraced and nurtured by Ireland and Mexico. Both countries have
maintained efforts to commemorate the Irish soldiers and the impact they made
while fighting under the Mexican flag.
Every year in Mexico there are two days where the San Patricios are celebrated,
September 12, the anniversary of the execution of the soldiers who were
captured, and March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day. In Monterrey, an Irish school is
located on a street called Batallón de San Patricio ("Battalion of Saint
Patrick"), and in Mexico City a street is also named in honor of the Irish
fighters – Mártires Irlandeses ("the Irish martyrs").
Clifden, the Galway hometown of San Patricios leader John Riley, flies the
Mexican flag in the town center to honor the Irish brigade. Also, in 2004, the
Mexican government donated a statue to the Irish government that stands in
Clifden.
On September 12, 1997, the 150th anniversary of The San Patricios, the post
offices in Mexico and Ireland issued a commemorative stamp designed by Lorenzo
Rafael.
The San Patricios legend also inspired several films, most notably One Man’s
Hero, the 1999 movie starring Tom Berenger. Irish-American band Black 47 also
wrote a song “San Patricio B rigade,” which includes the following verse:
The Mexican people
They treated us great
We danced at their weddings
And sang at their wakes
We fought in their battles
And where'er we'd go
Hiya le mad Irish
San Patricio
To
the Mexicans they were heroes. 
On
April 2, 1846, a clash occurred between Mexican and American troops on soil that
was claimed by both.
Mexico
was not to be outdone in terms of recruitment. General Santa Anna encouraged
American soldiers to fight on the Mexican side with offers of cash in dollars
and 200-acre grants of land. They could retain their rank and pay grade and
fight under the leadership of fellow American officers.
The
San Patricios fought in the five major battles against the Americans, which
included Matamoros, May 3, 1846, Monterrey, Sept. 21, 1846, Buena Vista, Feb.
22, 1847, Cerro Gordo, April 17, 1847 and Churubusco, August 20, 1847. After the
battle of Buena Vista, the San Patricios gained recognition as a Mexican
fighting unit to be reckoned with. They gained the grudging respect of the
American Army.
The
story of the San Patricios has been shrouded in legend so the numbers mentioned
in this article may have some variation. It was reported that the victory by the
Americans led to the capture of the San Patricios, which included Mexican Brevet
Major John Riley. It is estimated that as many as 260 San Patricios fought
alongside the Mexicans in the battle of Churubusco; 72 were taken prisoners; the
rest escaped or were killed in action. General Santa Anna commented, “a few
hundred more men like them and we would have won the battle” and praised them
for their proficiency and bravery.
The
goodwill that sprouted as a result of the Irish soldiers fighting in the Mexican
forces has been embraced and nurtured by Ireland and Mexico. Both countries have
maintained efforts to commemorate the Irish soldiers and the impact they made
while fighting under the Mexican flag.