Los San Patricios

As a result of destructive farming methods, the disastrous involvement of the British economic policies and, most destructively, the appearance of the Blight or potato fungus, the ‘Great Famine’ devastated Ireland between the years of 1845 and 1849. The exact number of deaths is unrecorded but estimates vary between 500,000 and one million. The population of Ireland, which at the time was approximately eight million, was halved due to deaths and emigration overseas.

The majority of the Irish emigrants headed for the States as they viewed it as the ‘Land of Opportunity.’ The Irish hoped to rebuild a new life in America but unsurprisingly their troubles did not end there. By the middle of the 19th century the huge number of Irish-Catholic immigrants dwelling in the United States increased the sentiment of hatred towards the Irish as the Americans felt that they were taking over. As victims of prejudice, the Irish found themselves siding with the Mexicans, who were also a minority group in conflict with the Americans over land claims. Consequently, a significant number of Irish deviated from their original plans of settling in the United States and instead crossed into Mexico.

The Mexican-American War, which took place between 1846 and 1848, was as a result of the US trying to expand its borders. One of the reasons for this invasion was to collect past-due loans and indemnities, however, it is thought amongst many historians that the main reason for this was that it would provide the United States with control of the ports of San Francisco and San Diego, the trade route through New Mexico’s territory, and the rich mineral resources of the Nevada territory (which belonged to the Republic of Mexico). The United States had previously offered $5 million to purchase New Mexico’s territory and $25 million for California but Mexico had refused.

Another cause of the Mexican-American War was the Texas War of Independence. In the 1820s and 1830s, Mexico, fresh from gaining independence from Spain was under populated in the northern parts of the country and in need of settlers to dwell there. The Mexicans invited Americans to travel south and dwell in their country if they would first make an oath of allegiance to Mexico and convert to Catholicism, the state religion. Thousands of Americans agreed with this offer and moved to the Mexican province of Texas. However, many of the new “Texicans” or “Texians” were unsatisfied with the way the government in Mexico City was running the country and in 1835, Texas revolted. In 1836 following several bloody battles, the Mexican President of the time, Santa Anna, was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco. This treaty gave Texas its independence, but many Mexicans refused to accept this treaty, as they viewed Santa Anna as a prisoner of the Texans revolutionary spirit at the time.

The circumstances which led to the Mexican-American War allowed the Irish immigrants to relate to Mexican suffering in a way they were all too familiar with from their own turbulent history, when English landlords demanded rule of Ireland. They viewed Mexico as another Catholic country being invaded by Protestant oppressors who were attempting to destroy their cultures and religions. They therefore decided to fight with the Mexicans for their independence. The Irish division of the Mexican army was known as Los San Patricios, or ‘The St Patrick’s’ and was led by Captain John Riley of Clifden, County Galway. Members participated in all the major battles of the war and were cited for bravery by General López de Santa Anna, the Mexican Commander in Chief and President.

Riley, a Catholic, and rebel at heart, was undoubtedly disturbed and disgusted at the crimes inflicted on the Mexicans by the Texas Rangers and the American army, such as murder, plundering, rape and the desecration of Catholic churches. He felt a deep empathy towards the plight of the Mexicans as their cause was one of which was close to his heart. Whilst in prison in Mexico Riley wrote a letter to a friend in Michigan in which he stated: “Be not deceived by the prejudice of a nation that is at war with Mexico, for a friendlier and more hospitable people than the Mexicans you will not find on the face of the earth.”

Los San Patricios fought bravely throughout the war, however in the penultimate battle, at Churubusco, 85 of the 200 Irish battalion were captured by the Americans and sentenced to outrageous tortures and hangings, resulting in what is considered even today as the ‘largest hanging affair in North America.’ The Mexicans were horrified by this incident and, to this day, statues can be seen in many Mexican cities, which were erected in honor of Los San Patricios.

The Mexicans commemorate the Irish aid to this day, especially on St Patrick’s Day and every year on September 12 the Irish are remembered and celebrated. More recently, after 150 years Mexico celebrated for the first time the St. Patrick’s Battalion with full military honors at the Plaza San Jacinto, Mexico City. In 1993, the Irish also began their own ceremony to honour Los San Patricios in Clifden, Riley’s home town, and this takes place annually.

The historian/author Michael Hogan gives a detailed account of the history of Los San Patricios in his book The Irish Soldiers in Mexico. The late Irish historian, Brian McGinn, has dedicated numerous years of research and study to this subject and in 1993, filmmaker Mark Day from California made a documentary about the San Patricio Battalion. This documentary was screened by RTE in Ireland on September 12th 1997, and also in Mexico, to coincide with the annual commemoration in each country. More info about this documentary is on www.dayproductions.com

Oonagh Carroll