Irish Catholics in Mexican army in war of 1846-1848

A fascinating chapter in American history is the story about the St. Patrick's Battalion of Irishmen fighting on the side of Catholic Mexico in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Irish families fleeing the Potato Famine in their native land and seeking refuge in the United States were guaranteed U.S. citizenship if they volunteered one son for service in the US Army. By the early 1840s a significant proportion of the enlisted men in the United States Army were Catholic immigrants from Ireland. These Irish Catholic recruits were severely maltreated in the Army because of the notorious prejudice against immigrants, especially Catholic immigrants, at that time in America. The Mexican government, aware of this prejudice, started a campaign during the Mexican-American War to win the foreigners and Catholics to its cause. The Mexicans urged the Irish to throw off the burden of fighting for their "Protestant tyrants" and join the Mexicans in driving the Yankees out of Mexico. Many Irish enlisted men, suffering discrimination and persecution in the US Army, drew the conclusion that they were fighting on the wrong side against their Catholic brothers in Mexico. Many deserted.

In November 1846 Gen. Santa Anna organized American deserters in Mexico to form the San Patricio Battalion, or St. Patrick's Company, a name it probably received from its Irish-American leader, John Riley, formerly a member of Company K of the Fifth United States Infantry. The company saw action at Monterrey, again near Saltillo, and at Buena Vista, each time receiving praise for its thorough job. The most important conflict came at the battle of Churubusco in August 1847, where the San Patricos took their last stand, in a battle reminiscent of the Alamo. The rest is history.

Were they heroes? Were they traitors? It all depends on your vantage point. But even from the viewpoint of the U.S. military, the less said about such subjects--the maltreatment of Irish Catholic enlisted men in the 1840s, the desertion of many, the defections of still others--the better. Mistreatment of servicement, as well as desertiongs, reflect poorly on political leadership and military command; defections even more so. The fate of the San Patricios was sad and cruel, as the U.S. meted out severe punishment to the Irish survivers when the Americans finally overran Mexican territory. I am told that to this day, the Mexico's Fighting Irish are commemorated as historical comrades in arms in Mexico.

The little-known story of the San Patricios was first rendered in film by Mark Day of California in 1996, under the title of "The San Patricios," and shown on RTE (Irish Public Service Television) in 1997. However, the story also attracted the attention of producer, Bill McDonald, who had a new version of the story shot (under the direction of Lance Hool) in Durango, Mexico, with Tom Berenger in the lead role as Sergeant Riley from Clifden. More extraordinary, Prince Albert of Monaco, son of Princess Grace, appears as a member of the San Patricios' famed artillery crew, "James Kelly." Actor Mark Thomas, close friend of Prince Albert's, had a role and involved the prince in the production since he was interested in the San Patricio story and in trying his hand at acting.

An excerpt from Robert J. McNamara's editorial review of the latter film:

"This historical drama set during the Mexican War is ambitious and tries to grapple with some serious themes, but it also tends to meander before finally finding a dramatic conclusion. Tom Berenger, who puts in a credible performance as an Irishman serving as an officer in the U.S. Army of the late 1840s, impulsively rides off with band of deserters, fellow Irish immigrants who have been persecuted for practicing their Catholic religion in the ranks. Berenger's character and the rebellious Irish lads flee into the hills of Mexico, where they are quickly taken captive by banditos who happen to be encamped with beautiful senoritas wearing dresses that can just never stay up on both shoulders at once. A romantic plot begins, but is put aside while Berenger and his men form their own Irish brigade to fight with the Mexicans against the U.S. troops invading from the north. After a series of hard-fought battles, their endeavors end disastrously."

McDonald's film, which appeared in 1998 under the title of "One Man's Hero" is a very decent production. The DVD version of "One Man's Hero" came out in 2001 and is available online (used or new) "HERE".


(Sources: "San Patricio Battalion," in The Handbook of Texas Online; and ""The San Patricios: An Historical Perspective," by Brian McGinn, in The San Patricos: Mexico's Fighting Irish; "The San Patricios on Screen," by Catherine Jennings, in The San Patricos: Mexico's Fighting Irish)