St. Patrick's Battalion

During the Mexican-American War roughly 9,000 American soldiers deserted the army, the highest desertion rate in U.S. history. Many soldiers left because of economic reasons, choosing to take their three month advanced pay and return back to the United States to their farms and families. Others left because of the harsh living conditions of military life and the cruel treatment of commanding officers. A number of U.S. soldiers left the army and fought for Mexico.

Commanding officers were often well-educated men from West Point and the Virginia Military Institute who had difficulties disciplining their men. Many officers resorted to severe public punishments to try and deter any future disciplinary problems. Despite these efforts, several cases of drunken American soldiers looting at times Mexican homes and villages were documented.

For Irish and German soldiers, life in the U.S. military was very challenging. Army officers as well as other enlisted men often persecuted the immigrants and Catholics were forbidden to worship while they were serving. Over time, some immigrants began to feel that the war was only being fought to expand slavery and make the plantation owners of the South richer.

The Irish soldiers were shocked by the American treatment of Mexican civilians, and began to empathize with the Mexicans. American actions in Mexico were reminiscent of British actions in Ireland. Like the United States, Great Britain is a Protestant nation. The British government took over Catholic property and destroyed Catholic Churches in Ireland. Some Irish and German soldiers felt that they should come to the assistance of Catholic Mexico.

The Mexican government was actively recruiting support from immigrant deserters. The Mexican government had handbills printed in French, German, and English that reminded combatants that Mexico “lived in peace and friendship” with their home nations. It encouraged foreign born soldiers to fight for their “shared imperiled religion”. The Mexican government also offered three hundred and fifty acres of land and gold to any U.S. solider that joined their army.

John Riley, an Irish immigrant from Galway had encouraged his fellow Irishmen to abandon the U.S. and fight for Mexico. Riley's soldiers became known as the Saint Patrick's Battalion or San Patricos. The Battalion was considered to be one of the best for the Mexican army, whose soldiers were decorated for their valor and bravery in several battles. General Santa Anna himself was to have said that he could have won the war if he only had 100 more Irish soldiers.

The Battalion was captured following the battle of Churubusco, outside Mexico City. Several times the Mexican army attempted to surrender, only to be stopped by members of the Battalion who urged them to fight on. At the end of the battle, 48 men were captured were found guilty of treason and sentenced to be executed by hanging.

General Taylor ordered that the execution take place on September 12th at dawn, just as the American flag was being raised above the city of Churubusco. Taylor wanted the sight of the American flag to be the last image the traitors would see, brining that “image to hell with them.” Typically, soldiers who were found guilty of treason were executed by firing squad, a more honorable death then hanging. Hanging was only reserved for spies, the worst type of punishment for the lowest class of soldier. The deserters were branded with the letter "D" on their cheek, a punishment that they were to carry for the rest of their lives.

The U.S. military did not formally acknowledge the Saint Patrick's Battalion until 1916. The actions taken by the Irish and German immigrants during the Mexican-American War was considered a black mark in the history of the U.S. army. The members of the battalion that were not executed disappeared from history. Appearing only in records regarding the purchase of land. In Mexico and Ireland they are considered martyrs, dying for a cause.

1. Define desert.

2. List three reasons why an American solider would have deserted during the Mexican-American War.

3. Give two examples of the prejudice that German and Irish immigrant soldiers faced while serving in the U.S. military.

4. Why did some Irish soldiers decide to fight for Mexico?

5. What was the punishment for the captured members of the St. Patrick's Battalion? Why was there a "D" branded on their cheek? Why do you think General Taylor ordered such a harsh punishment?