Why they Defected

There were many reasons why American soldiers deserted during the Mexican War; the highest desertion rate in any foreign war fought by the United States. The reasons were varied: the severe regimentation of 19th century military life; the harsh and cruel punishment for the slightest infraction; the unpopularity of the war; the Catholic issue; economic enticements offered by the Mexicans such as higher pay, land grants, and higher rank; the widespread prejudice toward foreign born soldiers; and the lack of promotion or advancement in the U. S. Army. While it is widely perceived in Mexico that the San Patricios defected solely on the issue of religion. The fact that there was rampant anti-Catholic bigotry in the US at that time does not play as great a role in the formation of the unit as is believed in Mexico. The religious bond was not a main reason why many defected. The attractive offer of high pay in the Mexican Army and the promise of land grants to defectors after the war outweighed the fraternal bond over religion. Riley and Dalton collaborated with Mexican generals to distribute handbills urging Irish and other foreign-born Catholic soldiers to defect. For instance, one such handbill read: Irishmen! Listen to the words of your brothers, hear the accents of Catholic people . . . Is religion no longer the strongest of human bonds? . . . Can you fight by the side of those who set fire to your temples in Boston and Philadelphia? Are Catholic Irishmen to be the destroyers of Catholic temples, the murderers of Catholic priests . . ? Come over to us; you will be received under the laws of that truly Christian hospitality and good faith which Irish guests are entitled to expect and obtain from a Catholic nation . . .May Mexicans and Irishmen, united by the sacred tie of religion and benevolence, form only one people. These Irish immigrants originally joined the US army to obtain citizenship while fleeing from the cruelty of the British Government only to witness similar cruelties against the innocent people of Mexico. "There comes a time for every man and Nation to choose for the good or evil side, that is when brave man takes a stand and the coward stands aside". Soon after enlisting in the US army the San Patricios began to see they were fighting on the side on Injustice. They saw the United States carrying out a huge, greedy and cruel land grab, reminiscent of the English occupation of Ireland. The killing, looting, rape and senseless destroying of Mexican civilian property reminded them of the British injustice back in Ireland. Those who arrived in the United States faced bigoted campaigns, similar to today's reactionary immigrant bashing. Irish immigrants faced police violence and murder, like many oppressed immigrants today. They did not want to be on the side of the exploiters, the expansionists, religious bigots and the slave owners. Southern states were nearer to Mexico and a high percentage of US troops came from that area. Most were British or Scottish Protestant background and not very friendly to Catholics. This prejudice still thrives in Northern Ireland. Declaring oneself to be Irish and Catholic in the U.S. army at that time was akin to declaring oneself Jewish in Nazi Germany. Religion was another major issue in the conflict. As for the formation of the battalion, the decision to join the Mexican side was probably due more to impulse and emotion like many of Ireland's rebellions, including the Easter Uprising of 1916. "Nevertheless," the courage of the San Patricios, their sense of loyalty to their new cause and their continuous allegiance to Mexico even after whippings, brandings and imprisonment, forged an indelible seal of honor on their sacrifice." Fr Eugene Mc Namara During the trials, another significant event occurred when the apprehension and execution of Fr Eugene McNamara was called for. Fr McNamara was named as a principal conspirator. A native of Ireland who began working as an apostolic missionary in Mexico more than two years before the start of the war, McNamara plotted with the Mexican foreign minister on schemes to encourage Irish-born soldiers to defect from the US army. One plan was to offer them land in California after the war if they defected. Apart from his role in the war, Fr McNamara regularly visited California and even before the war was consulting with the Mexican government about a plan to bring ten thousand Irish immigrants to settle in the Sacramento Valley area. The priest's plan was foiled because of the outbreak of the war and the fact that Mexico lost what is now the state of California to the US. However, had there not been a war and the ten thousand Irish had settled there, Mexico could have rivalled Argentina as the country with the largest Irish population outside of the English-speaking world. The great success that the Irish community in Argentina has had is a strong indication that the Irish settlers would have been successful in Mexico. While Fr Eugene McNamara did not see his plan become a reality, he was fortunate enough to escape execution by eluding the squads of US soldiers looking for him, and returning to Ireland. Furthermore, it clear that the Irish deserters of the Saint Patrick's Battalion were in no way representative of the Irish-born soldiers who made up one-fourth of all enlisted men in the US Army during the US-Mexican War. There were seventeen totally Irish companies who saw action in this war; many were highly decorated units such as the Emmet Guards from Albany, New York; the Jasper Greens of Savannah, Georgia; the Mobile Volunteers of Alabama; the Pittsburgh Hibernian Greens. The US army at that time was made up of bigoted individuals who were either part of the Revolutionary War many supporting the British side which preceded it, or the Civil War, which followed shortly afterward. Like the Civil War, the Irish fought on both sides. It is a fact that Irish made up a large part of the US army. The army of George Washington was about one-third Irish and an even higher percentage during the terrible winter at Valley Forge. There were Irish brigades on both sides of the Civil War. Irish immigrants were granted a US citizenship if they joined the Army and literally did the dirty work for the US politicians and rich at that time. The wealthy US citizens bought their way out of the army by paying an Irishman to fight in their place. Irish soldiers could be found fighting on both sides of almost every major conflict from the 17th through the mid-20th century. Desertion and defection are part and parcel of every war. And that bodies of Irish soldiers have changed sides since at least 1586. During World War I, Roger Casement toured German POW camps and recruited some 50 Irish prisoners--captured as members of British units--to form the nucleus of an Irish Brigade fighting on the German side. So the fact that 200 or more Irishmen deserted and changed sides during the US war with Mexico should not surprise us. Indeed, in the political and religious climate of the time, we could legitimately ask why the number was so small. Against that background, we should take note when Irishmen as a body make a conscious decision to risk their lives by switching sides in the midst of a conflict. And we should treat with healthy skepticism simplistic explanations that they were simply a misguided bunch of naive and reckless adventurers, motivated by opportunism and too much alcohol.
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Irish flag  Mexican flag Both flags are very similar
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