September 13: The San Patricios

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader Podcast. Today is September 13th, and our story is The San Patricios. Some claim the soldiers deserted because of the hatred Protestant officers had for Catholics. Others think the promise of money and land in Mexico lured the Irish-American soldiers south. In truth, no one knows for certain why nearly 200 Irish Catholic immigrants deserted the U.S. Army in 1846 and joined cause with Mexico at the outset of the Mexican-American War. Although, had American officers not forced Catholic soldiers to attend In the early days, they might have had fewer deserters on their hands.

Regardless, enough Irish-American soldiers switched sides in those first several months that the Mexican army organized them into a battalion. The men called their unit St. Patrick's Battalion. The Mexicans called them the San Patricios. Despite the name, other foreigners fought in the unit as well, including immigrants from Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland.

For more than a year, the San Patricios commanded heavy artillery for Mexico, and the heavy casualties they inflicted on American troops at the battles of Monterey, Buena Vista, and Cerro Gordo made their defeat a priority for U.S. Commander Zachary Taylor. That defeat came on August 20, 1847, at the Battle of Churubusco. Knowing that surrender would mean capture and certain death, the San Patricios forcibly stopped Mexican officers from raising the white flag three times. Then, when their ammunition ran out, they turned to hand-to-hand combat.

Nevertheless, by the end of the day, more than 35 San Patricios were dead, and upwards of 75 were taken prisoner. Just days later, an American military court found nearly all the men guilty of desertion and treason, and sentenced them to death by hanging. The last of those sentences was carried out on September 13, 1847.

The U.S. Army denied the existence of the San Patricios until 1915, but both in Mexico and Ireland, the San Patricios were and are celebrated as heroes, with statues, streets, and even towns named in their honor. As they say, one man's hero. The San Patricios remind us that conscience and moral courage often demand difficult choices.

Heroism may not align with popular opinion, but with justice, faith, and principle. Consider a decision where conscience and courage could guide your choice and act with integrity even if it challenges convention. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, September 14th, for another story of faith and courage in America.