Into Eternity: Legacy of The Saint Patrick's Battalion
Faculty Mentor
Joseph U. Lenti
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB 321
Primary Discipline of Presentation
History
Abstract
“The Saint Patrick’s Battalion” was a rogue unit of Irish-Catholic soldiers who deserted from the U.S. Army shortly before or during the Mexican-American war. Disillusioned by their mistreatment in the American army, they found common ground with the Mexican people over their shared faith and national story. John Riley, the battalion’s eventual leader, deserted shortly before the war broke out and was captured by Mexican forces. After some convincing, he was given a commission by Mexican General Pedro de Ampudia and instructed to raise a company of fellow deserters. The unit served courageously, garnering praise and honor in the eyes of the Mexican people, until their defeat at the Battle of Churubusco in 1847. The sixty-five men captured after the battle were tried and convicted of desertion. Fifty of these men were hanged, while the others, including Captain Riley, suffered horrific punishment. To understand the historical legacy of the San Patricios in Mexican history, it is important to first understand the events that catapulted them into legend. This paper contends that the brutal executions and harsh punishments inflicted on the San Patricios during the Mexican-American War played a crucial role in shaping their legacy, transforming them from traitors to martyrs and contributing significantly to their widespread reverence in Mexico as seen in the prevalence of public monuments dedicated to their memory. This essay explores the evolving historical legacy of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion in the Mexican public consciousness, utilizing primary and secondary sources to elucidate the unit’s cultural memory.
Recommended Citation
Dyess, Preston S., "Into Eternity: Legacy of The Saint Patrick's Battalion" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 8.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/op_2025/o3_2025/8
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Into Eternity: Legacy of The Saint Patrick's Battalion
PUB 321
“The Saint Patrick’s Battalion” was a rogue unit of Irish-Catholic soldiers who deserted from the U.S. Army shortly before or during the Mexican-American war. Disillusioned by their mistreatment in the American army, they found common ground with the Mexican people over their shared faith and national story. John Riley, the battalion’s eventual leader, deserted shortly before the war broke out and was captured by Mexican forces. After some convincing, he was given a commission by Mexican General Pedro de Ampudia and instructed to raise a company of fellow deserters. The unit served courageously, garnering praise and honor in the eyes of the Mexican people, until their defeat at the Battle of Churubusco in 1847. The sixty-five men captured after the battle were tried and convicted of desertion. Fifty of these men were hanged, while the others, including Captain Riley, suffered horrific punishment. To understand the historical legacy of the San Patricios in Mexican history, it is important to first understand the events that catapulted them into legend. This paper contends that the brutal executions and harsh punishments inflicted on the San Patricios during the Mexican-American War played a crucial role in shaping their legacy, transforming them from traitors to martyrs and contributing significantly to their widespread reverence in Mexico as seen in the prevalence of public monuments dedicated to their memory. This essay explores the evolving historical legacy of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion in the Mexican public consciousness, utilizing primary and secondary sources to elucidate the unit’s cultural memory.
