The St. Patrick's Battalion the Irish Soldiers of Mexico

The St. Patrick’s Battalion The Irish Soldiers of Mexico

Jaime Fogarty *

Carlos Nebel, The Battle of Churubusco, 1851 (color lithograph).

n September 12, 1997, the Mex - St. Patrick’s Battalion were executed for noted that Ireland and Mexico shared a ican government paid special following their consciences. They were mar - common history of struggle to preserve Otribute to the soldiers of the tyred for adhering to the highest ideals, their cultural identities and political lib - San Patricio Battalion who were tortured and today we honor their memory. In the erties, often threatened by powerful and and hanged at the San Jacinto Plaza, San name of the people of Mexico, I salute today aggressive neighbors. Angel, in 1847. the people of Ireland and express my eter - He also paid tribute to the humanitari - Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo nal gratitude.” 1 The president concluded, an insights of the San Patricios who, presided at the ceremonies marking the saying, “While we honor the memory of the “despite the confusion and animosities of sesqui centennial of that tragic event and Irish who gave their lives for Mexico and war, were able to discern the admirable declared, “One hundred and fifty years for human dignity, we also honor our own qualities of the Mexican people, un cloud - ago, here in San Angel,...members of the commitment to cherish their ideals, and ed by preconceived notions of racial preju - to always defend the values for which they dice.” In this context, he quoted the leader * Séamus Jaime O’Fógartaigh, Irish freelance occupy a place of honor in our history.” 2 of the San Patricios, John O’Reilly (also writer living in Mexico, author of Liberation and Development, A Latin American Perspective . Irish Ambassador to Mexico Seán written Riley) who wrote: “Do not be O’Huighinn emphasized the bonds of deceived by the prejudice of a nation at war Photos: Editorial Clío Photo Archive. Carlos Nebel's litograph reprinted by permission of the friendship that the “San Patricios” have with Mexico, because you will not find in National Institute of Anthropology and History/ Conaculta- INAH -MEX . Sam Chamberlain's water color forged between the two countries, and all the world a people more frien ly and reprinted by permission of The San Jacinto 3 Museum of History, Houston. which continue to grow and prosper. He hospitable than the Mexicans.”

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HISTORICAL REVIEW Gaelic “Erin go Brágh” (Ireland for Ever). 1846. Liberating Army of the North, as On the other side of the banner Saint well as a special artillery unit manned by Following the U.S. declaration of war Patrick was depicted holding a pastoral the San Patricios. This unit was command - against Mexico in 1846, an Irish-born staff resting on a serpent. ed by Colonel Fran cisco Rosendo More- desert er from the U.S. army, John O’Reilly, A U.S. soldier described it as “a beauti - no and played and important role in the organized a company of soldiers at Mata- ful green silk banner [that] waved over Mex ican victory at the Battle of Angos tur a moros to fight on the side of Mexico their heads; on it glittered a silver cross and in February 1847. According to Miller, “Two against the invading U.S. forces. These a golden harp, embroidered by the hands of six-pounder cannon of the U.S. Fourth foreign volunteers became known as “Las the fair nuns of San Luis Potosí.” 4 Artillery were captured by the enemy Compañías de San Patricio,” and were Historian Robert Miller also cites due to intense fire from the San Patricio renowned for their skill as arti lle rists as another reference to the San Patricio ban - cannoneers, aided by support troops.” 6 well as their bravery in battle for the dura - ner by an American observer: “Among the General Francisco Mejía cited the San tion of the war (1846-1848). Not all the mighty host we passed was O’Reilly and his Patricios in his report as “worthy of the most consummate praise because the men fought with daring bravery.” 7 As a result of their heroism in battle, O’Reilly, among others, was promoted to the rank of captain and was given the Angostura Cross of Honor. Despite the apparent victory of the Mexican forces at Angostura, Santa Anna decided to abandon the field of battle and retreated to San Luis Potosí. Accor ding to Miller, about a third of the San Patricios were killed or wounded at Angostura. 8 Only two weeks after the battle of Angostura, the main focus of the war Sam Chamberlain’s rendition of the execution of legionnaires near Chapultepec Castle, ca. 1867 shifted to the Mexican Gulf Coast with (water colors, pencil and gouache). the arrival of General Winfield Scott at San Patricios were deserters from the company of deserters bearing aloft in high Veracruz with 9,000 troops. U.S. army. Their number also included disgrace the holy banner of St. Patrick.” 5 The San Patricios were transferred Irish and other Europeans already set - from San Luis Potosí to Jalapa and took tled in Mexico, and some historians use part in the Battle of Cerro Gordo which Mexican army records as a basis to state FROM MATAMOROS TO CHURUBUSCO ended in defeat for the Mexican forces. that the majority were not deserters. The San Patricios did, however, have a dis - The San Patricios took part in the fight - tinctly Irish identity since their name - ing at Matamoros and Monterrey where THE FOREIGN LEGION OF SAINT PATRICK sake, St. Patrick, is the patron saint of they earned a reputation for their exper - the Irish people. The group’s banner dis - tise in handling heavy weaponry. Following In June 1847, Santa Anna created a for - played an Irish harp surrounded by the the U.S. victory at Monterrey, the Mexican eign legion as part of the Mexican army, Mexican coat-of-arms with a scroll reading, army retreated to San Luis Potosí, where and the San Patricios were transferred “Freedom for the Mexican Republic,” and General Antonio López de Santa Anna from the artillery branch to the infantry underneath the harp was the motto in reorganized the Mexican forces in late and merged into the Foreign Legion. They

58 History

then became known as the First and Se - passing to our ranks out of sympathy for our ently were later able to rejoin the retreat - cond Militia Infantry Companies of San ideals and religion, were able to use the ing Mexican forces. Pa tricio. Colonel Francisco R. Mo reno munitions; and they continued their spirited Seventy-two were charged with deser - was made commander, with Captain John volleys, until the enemy’s rain of fire brought tion from the U.S. army, and General O’Reilly in charge of the First Company death to those valiant marksmen. 9 Scott ordered that two courts-martial be and Captain Santiago O’Leary of the Second. convened to try them. The companies were also referred to as History records that following the sur - “The Foreign Legion of San Patricio.” render, when U.S. General Twiggs asked General Anaya where his ammunition LASHING , B RANDING AND HANGING was stored, he replied bitterly, “If I had THE BATTLE OF CHURUBUSCO ammunition, you would not be here.” 10 A court-martial at San Angel September Undoubtedly, the tenacity and skill of 8, 1847, upheld the death sentence for Dr. Michael Hogan, the Irish-American the San Patricio companies at Churu bus - 20 of the 29 San Patricios tried there, author of The Irish Soldiers of Mexico , pro - co earned them the everlasting esteem while a similar court at Ta cubaya ordered vides a detailed, well documented account the death penalty for 30 more. The oth - of the heroic defense of the “con vento” Not all the San Patricios were ers, including O’Reilly, escaped the (monastery) at Churubusco when it was deserters from the U.S. army. Their death penalty since they had deserted attacked by the invading U.S. forces on before war was declared. They, however, number also included Irish and August 20, 1847. The mo nastery, sur - were condemned to “receive 50 lashes rounded by huge, thick stone walls, provid - other Europeans already settled on their bare backs, to be branded with ed a natural fortress for the defending in Mexico, and some historians the letter ‘D’ for deserter, and to wear Mexican forces. The San Pa tricio use Mexican army records as a iron yokes around their necks for the 12 Companies together with the Los Bravos basis to state that the majority duration of the war.” Battalion occupied the parapets of the Two Mexican muleteers were forced to were not deserters. build ing which was to become the scene of administer the lashes, according to Hogan. one of the bloodiest battles of the war. On September 10, 1847, 16 of the con- Though hopelessly outnumbered, the and affection of the Mexican people; and demned San Patricios were hanged at defenders repelled the attacking U.S. their willingness to fight to the death for the San Jacinto Plaza, San Angel, and 14 forces with heavy losses until their ammu - their commitment to Mexico forged an others received 59 lashes on their bare nition ran out, and a Mexican officer, indelible seal of honor on that commit ment. backs until, according to an American realizing the hopelessness of the situa - Mexicans are also justly proud of the eyewitness, “Their backs had the appear - tion, raised the white flag of surrender. heroic stand of their national guardsmen, ance of a pounded piece of raw beef, the According to Hogan, Captain Patrick “green civilian recruits, fighting to the death blood oozing from every stripe.” 13 Dalton of the San Patricios tore the against Scott’s well-equipped veter ans.” 11 After the flogging, the prisoners were white flag down, and General Pedro According to General Anaya’s written branded the letter “D” with red-hot brand - Anaya ordered his men to fight on with report, 35 San Patricios were killed in ing irons. Some were branded on the hip, their bare hands if necessary. action, O’Leary and O’Reilly were wound - while others were branded on the cheek, Mexican historian, Heriberto Frías ed and Francis O’Connor lost both legs as and O’Reilly was branded on both described the heroic last stand of the San a result of his heroic stand against the cheeks for good measure. San Jacinto Patricios: invaders. Plaza thus became the scene of bloody Eighty-five of the San Patricios were and mangled bodies, mingled with the Only the soldiers of St. Patrick, brave Irishmen taken prisoner, while the other survivors repulsive odor of the burning flesh of the who spontaneously defended our standard, (about 85) managed to escape, and appar - tortured San Patricios.

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According to Hogan, five Mexican expressed its indignation, writing, “This who wrote the first book —a novel— in priests who sought to give spiritual assis - day, in cold blood, these [American] Spanish about the San Patricios. tance to the victims were forced to wit - Caribs from an impulse of superstition, The escutcheon at the top of the ness the whippings and brandings and and after the manner of savages as prac - plaque depicts a Celtic cross protected by ordered to withdraw to the gallows to ticed in the days of Homer, have hanged the outstretched wings of the Aztec eagle. witness the final act of this “gruesome these men as a holocaust.” 16 The inscription on the plaque reads: “In and carefully orchestrated spectacle.” memory of the Irish soldiers of the heroic Eight mule-drawn wagons were brought San Patricio Battalion, martyrs who gave up, and two prisoners were placed on each IN MEMORIAM their lives for the cause of Mex ico during wagon. Sixteen nooses hanging from the the unjust U.S. invasion of 1847.” crossbeam were placed around their 1997 marked the sesquicentennial of a At the bottom of the plaque another necks, and the priests were brought for - bitter and traumatic chapter in the histo - inscription reads, “With the gratitude of ward to administer the last rites of the ry of the Irish and Mexican peoples. Mexico, 112 years after their holocaust.” Catholic Church. Then, “the whips Mexico remembered the tragic loss of The plaque was placed in 1959 and cracked, and the wagons drove off leav - continues to remind visitors to the ing the 16 victims dangling from their peaceful, tree-shaded plaza, of the tragic nooses.” 14 It has been wisely said events that took place there on Sep tem- Some, like Captain Patrick Dalton, that those who ignore the lessons ber 10, 1847. had asked to be buried in consecrated of history are destined to repeat ground, and were interred in nearby Tla- copac. The others were buried beneath it, and that we do not need to NOTES the gallows, and O’Reilly and his tor tured savor the bitterness of the past 1 The News (Mexico City), 13 September 1997. companions were forced to dig their fall - in order to understand its lesson 2 en comrades’ graves. On September 2, Ibid. four more convicted San Patricios were for the present and the future. 3 Novedades (Mexico City), 13 September 1997, M i - chael Hogan, The Irish Soldiers of Mexico (Gua da la - hanged at the nearby village of Mixcoac. jara: Fondo Editorial Universitario, 1997), p. 244.

The final scene of this macabre and 4 Robert Ryal Miller, Shamrock and Sword, The Saint Patrick’s Battalion in the U.S.-Mexican War somewhat sadistic “hanging spree” took almost half its territory, “ceded” to the (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, place near Tacubaya on September 13, United States; and Ireland remembered 1989), p. 38. when the remaining 30 convicted San the tragic loss of almost half its total pop - 5 Ibid., p. 52. Patricios were hanged. Francis O’Con nor, ulation due to starvation and emigration 6 Ibid., p. 55. who had lost his legs at Churubusco and brought about by the Great Famine of 7 Ibid., p. 57. was dying from his wounds, was none - 1847. It has been wisely said that those 8 Ibid., p. 55. theless dragged from the hospital tent who ignore the lessons of history are des - 9 Heriberto Frías, La guerra contra los gringos (Mex - and propped up on a wagon with a noose tined to repeat it, and that we do not ico City: Ediciones Leega/Jucar, 1984). around his neck. When the American need to savor the bitterness of the past in 10 Hogan, op. cit., p. 80. flag was raised over Chapultepec Castle, order to understand its lesson for the 11 Ibid., p. 80. the San Patricios were “launched into present and the future. 12 Ibid., p. 173. eternity as the wagons pulled away, and Each year, on September 12, Mexico 13 Ibid., p. 176. the nooses tightened on their necks.” 15 pays tribute to the San Patricios at San 14 Mexicans were shocked and outraged Jacinto Plaza. The commemorative plaque Ibid., p. 178. by this cruel and barbaric treatment of on the wall facing the plaza was designed 15 Ibid., pp. 184-187. the San Patricios. El Diario del Gobierno by Lorenzo Rafael, son of Patricio Cox, 16 Miller, op. cit., p. 111.