San Patricio Battalion

Saint Patrick's Battalion
Reconstruction of the battalion's flag as described by John Riley.
Active	1846–1848
Country	Mexico
Branch	Mexican Army
Type	Artillery/Infantry
Size	est. 200+ maximum strength
Nickname(s)	Los San Patricios, Los Colorados Valientes
Patron	Saint Patrick
Motto(s)	Erin go bragh (An anglicisation of the Irish for "Ireland forever")
Colors	Turkish Blue      Sky Blue      Crimson      Yellow
Engagements	Mexican–American War Siege of Fort Texas Battle of Monterrey Battle of Buena Vista Battle of Cerro Gordo Battle of Churubusco Battle for Mexico City
Commanders
Colonel of the Regiment	Francisco R. Moreno
Notable commanders	Brevet Major John Riley Captain Santiago O'Leary Sergeant Prisciliano Almitrano

External image

An image displaying both the Irish and Mexican versions of the joint issue stamp

Mexican–American War

The Saint Patrick's Battalion (Spanish: Batallón de San Patricio), formed and led by John Riley, was a unit of 175 to several hundred immigrants (accounts vary) and expatriates of European descent who fought as part of the Mexican Army against the United States in the Mexican–American War of 1846–8. Most of the battalion's members had deserted or defected from the United States Army. The Battalion served as an artillery unit for much of the war. Despite later being formally designated as two infantry companies, it still retained artillery pieces throughout the conflict. In many ways, the battalion acted as the sole Mexican counterbalance to the recent U.S. innovation of horse artillery. The "San Patricios" were responsible for the toughest battles encountered by the United States in its invasion of Mexico, with Ulysses S. Grant remarking that "Churubusco proved to be about the severest battle fought in the valley of Mexico".

Composed primarily of Catholic Irish immigrants, the battalion also included Germans, Canadians, English, French, Italians, Poles, Scots, Spaniards, Swiss, and Mexicans, many of whom were members of the Catholic Church. Disenfranchised Americans were in the ranks, including escaped slaves from the Southern United States. Only a few members of the Saint Patrick's Battalion were actual U.S. citizens. The Mexican government printed propaganda in different languages to entice immigrants in the U.S. army to switch sides and offered incentives to foreigners who would enlist in its army including granting them citizenship, paying higher wages than the U.S. Army, and generous land grants.