The Saint Patrick's Battalion: Irish Deserters in the Mexican-American War
During the Mexican-American War, which lasted from April 25, 1846, to February 2, 1848, a group of US Army deserters established the Saint Patrick's Battalion to fight alongside Mexico. This unit, primarily made up of Irish and German immigrants and originally named the Legión de Extranjeros, was commanded by John Riley and Martin Tritschler. They engaged in battles such as Monterrey (September 21–24, 1846), Buena Vista (February 2, 1847), and Churubusco (August 20, 1847), where they incurred significant losses. Following Churubusco, over 80 members were captured, with more than 70 facing desertion charges, resulting in at least 50 executions. In Mexico, their contributions are honored on Saint Patrick's Day and September 12. The conflict led to Mexico relinquishing nearly half of its territory.
Key facts
- The Mexican-American War lasted from April 25, 1846, to February 2, 1848.
- The Saint Patrick's Battalion was formed by deserters from the US Army, primarily Irish and German immigrants.
- Key battles involving the battalion included Monterrey, Buena Vista, and Churubusco.
- Over 50 San Patricios were executed by hanging, with mass executions on September 10 and 13, 1847.
- John Riley, an Irish deserter, was branded with a 'D' and given fifty lashes.
- The US Army desertion rate during the war was 8%, with 9,200 deserters from an initial 111,000 soldiers.
- Mexico ceded around half its territory after the war, following the US occupation of Mexico City.
- The battalion is commemorated in Mexico with streets named in their honor and observances on Saint Patrick's Day.
Entities
Artists
- James Walker
- Albert Bobbett
- Adolphe Jean-Baptiste
- J Cameron
- Carlos Nebel
- John Riley
Institutions
- National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
- Library of Congress
- Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas
- Wikimedia Commons
- Meisterdrucke
- Saint Patrick's Battalion
- Mexican Army
- US Army
Locations
- United States
- Mexico
- Texas
- Mexico City
- Monterrey
- Buena Vista
- Churubusco
- Cerro Gordo
- Chapultepec
- Ireland
- Spain
- Poland
- Canada
- England
- Switzerland
- Italy
- France
- Scotland
- Washington DC
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Fort Brown
- Fort Isabel
- Matamoros