The St. Patrick's Battalion the Irish Soldiers of Mexico
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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.” 57 VOICES of MEXICO • 51 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 tu ra 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.