159th Anniversary of the Saint Patrick's Battalion, Mexico.

by Seamus O Raghallaigh Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:06 twtone at lycos dot com

Go raibh maith agat Fiachra. Sin eolas brea a fail.
I never knew about this little piece of Irish-Mexican history, was very interesting to read about it, so go raibh mile maith agat chun e.
Sad thing is that the Irish gov. is be more occupied with remembering fallen british army soldiers then true republican heros like these men. They would probably be slurred with the tag 'terrorists' if they fought imperialism in a similar manner these days.
Slan
S

by by David Rovics Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:10

My name is John Riley
I'll have your ear only a while
I left my dear home in Ireland
It was death, starvation or exile
And when I got to America
It was my duty to go
Enter the Army and slog across Texas
To join in the war against Mexico

It was there in the pueblos and hillsides
That I saw the mistake I had made
Part of a conquering army
With the morals of a bayonet blade
So in the midst of these poor, dying Catholics
Screaming children, the burning stench of it all
Myself and two hundred Irishmen
Decided to rise to the call

(Chorus)
From Dublin City to San Diego
We witnessed freedom denied
So we formed the Saint Patrick Battalion
And we fought on the Mexican side

We marched 'neath the green flag of Saint Patrick
Emblazoned with "Erin Go Bragh"
Bright with the harp and the shamrock
And "Libertad para Mexicana"
Just fifty years after Wolfe Tone
Five thousand miles away
The Yanks called us a Legion of Strangers
And they can talk as they may

(Chorus)

We fought them in Matamoros
While their volunteers were raping the nuns
In Monterey and Cerro Gordo
We fought on as Ireland's sons
We were the red-headed fighters for freedom
Amidst these brown-skinned women and men
Side by side we fought against tyranny
And I daresay we'd do it again

(Chorus)

We fought them in five major battles
Churobusco was the last
Overwhelmed by the cannons from Boston
We fell after each mortar blast
Most of us died on that hillside
In the service of the Mexican state
So far from our occupied homeland
We were heroes and victims of fate

(Chorus)

by Mac Geough Tue Sep 12, 2006 16:10

Only about 2/5's of the battalion were from Irealnd. Of the 71 men who were court-martialed by The U.S. Army, 29 were born in Ireland,19 in the United States, 13 from German states, 8 non-British subjects (7 members of the battalion were from Scotland), 1 from France, 1 from Italy.
There may still be a commemation in Clifden, Co. Galway on Sept. 13th (birth place of S.P.B. Capt. John Riley).
Riley was later court-martlialed by the Mexican Army for mutiny but was found not quilty, was involved in some level
of a later attempt to over throw one of Mexicos corrupt govt's. He MAY have returned to Ireland.
Futher reading:
THE ROGUE'S MARCH Peter F. Stevens
SHAMROCK and SWORD Robert Ryal Miller

by welshMx Sat Sep 16, 2006 16:52

The battalion was one of the greatest multi divers groups in the Mexican army they are and always be the defenders of the north. All the members left when the battalion was disband at the end of the war and given there Promised Land by the government for there sacrifice in the war.
And about the death of Capt. John Riley he is buried in Veracruz.

by missy conklin Wed Jun 18, 2008 22:57

I took American history in High school ,isnt it strange this was never mentioned in our history books . That is really biased . I learned of it on my own. How these brave men , recently come from an infamined country ,to the land of the free,only to go to war and die defending what they beleived was a moral duty. The Mexican American war is a shameful spot in the annals of history, and President Polk was a slave driver president . NO wonder they dont teach it in our high schools ! It was a blatant abuse and robbery of the Mexican lands comprosing of California,Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. The volunteers as they were called , came to volunteer themselves to robbery ,rape, murder of children and babies,and drunkeness, .So in light of that ,can you blame these brave men for changing sides? Not at all ,! Erin Go Bragh!

by Yeranui Kaloyan Mon Aug 11, 2008 05:18 ykp62 at yahoo dot com

Even though I am mexican, the Saint Patrick Battalion is very like known in mexican history, when I studied mexican history on the fourth grade they vagely told us about these brave men, that gave their lives for my country.
You Irish people should be proud of these men.

by Mary C Wed Mar 04, 2009 03:24

I was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Across the border sits Fort Brown (now a University campus). That is the place where the american army fought the mexican troops. I am a high school teacher and a part time university professor. I learned about the San Patricios through a fellow professor while I attended a history workshop. I have researched and read some articles and some videos about the San Patricios. I am trying to make my students in high school (most of them Mexican-American) have some connection with the St Patrick's Day Celebration.
All I can say is the Irish, German and American men that formed this batallion were true heroes of faith.
God Bless them

by Jorge Tellez Wed Mar 11, 2009 14:04

To all the Irish, Germans, US, Swiss and other nationalities that switch band to fight and die for a principle and moral. That became Mexicans and fight fo us.

We as a world should look at them for inspiration about doing good and fighting wrong allways folowing moral principles.

We Mexico will never gonna get back our stolen land, but we can get our pride and learn and get inspired in not giving up on the hardest moments, just as San Patrick Battalion teach us.

Viva Mexico, Viva Irlanda

Erin Go Bragh

by HECTORMEXICO - NONE Fri Oct 16, 2009 23:34

The saint patrick battalion are the most braves soldiers of mexico , mexico loves those irish soldiers.
In the ceremonies in mexico the escolarships says: ¡ he died for the country !
The best book for read about saint patrick battalion is : "the irish soldiers of mexico" , autor: michael hogan.
Hogan is imparcial in this tragic history.
Abrahm lincoln said to president james polk: "war has begun unnecessarily and unconstitutionally"