Irish in the American/Mexican War

[Red Revolutionary]

Did anyone ever hear about an Irish Battalion fighting on the side of the yanks in the American/Mexican war which defected to the side of the mexicans and fought against the Americans?

[mac_talla]

Aye...the San Patricios.

Not traitors, executed....heroes, murdered for belief.

Still honoured in Mexico today.

[Foyleview]

Did anyone ever hear about an Irish Battalion fighting on the side of the yanks in the American/Mexican war which defected to the side of the mexicans and fought against the Americans?

I posted a thread recently on this in the History section.
John reilly was the leader of the st patricios, a gallent and heroic group of Irish soldiers who went to fight for the mexican army . they had the Irish flag as its emblem. A great story still celebrated every St Patricks day in Mexico.

[Galician Republican]

Did they have the Irish flag as their emblem? Was it not meant to be a Green Flag with the Erin go Bragh emblem that they fought under? Very interesting topic to read about and study. Studied it for a special topic issue on latin american culture last year. lot of contrasting accounts though. hard to come across any very concrete facts on some aspects of it. Still honoured today in Mexico and I have some Mexican friends here in Spain who are very interested in the subject and feel very conected to the irish due to it.

[Seán1798]

Did they have the Irish flag as their emblem? Was it not meant to be a Green Flag with the Erin go Bragh emblem that they fought under?

Yes that's the Irish flag, green with a gold harp, 'it is new strung and will be heard' or 'Erin go Bragh' sometimes appear under the harp.

[MatthewTirEoghain]

One night in Auld Reekie as I walked down the street
A saucy big polis I chanced for to meet
He glowered in my face and he gi'ed me some jaw
Sayin' "When cam' ye over, bold Erin-go-bragh?"

[no one]

thread i started with article about the san patricos battalion...

http://www.irishrepublican.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7804

[Takeshi]

Aye...the San Patricios.

Not traitors, executed....heroes, murdered for belief.

Still honoured in Mexico today.

When you join any armed forces, you take an oath of enlistment that leaves you legally obliged to follow the lawful orders of your superiors. You just don't get to quit in the middle of a war and join the enemy.

[Red Revolutionary]

When you join any armed forces, you take an oath of enlistment that leaves you legally obliged to follow the lawful orders of your superiors. You just don't get to quit in the middle of a war and join the enemy.

Would you apply the same principles to the Holocaust?

[KillinSnakes]

When you join any armed forces, you take an oath of enlistment that leaves you legally obliged to follow the lawful orders of your superiors. You just don't get to quit in the middle of a war and join the enemy.

I guess you have a low opinion of Tom Barry, James Connolly and countless other fenians then! :icon_lol:

Massive respect for the San Patricios. A comrade of mine is working on a memorial for em.

[on the one road]

When you join any armed forces, you take an oath of enlistment that leaves you legally obliged to follow the lawful orders of your superiors. You just don't get to quit in the middle of a war and join the enemy.

those that want loyalty need to show loyalty

[JWRice]

I saw a movie on the subject. It starred Tom Berenger. Sorry cant remember the name. It was pretty entertaining. The soldiers left the US army because they were not allowed to practice their religion.

[mac_talla]

I saw a movie on the subject. It starred Tom Berenger. Sorry cant remember the name. It was pretty entertaining. The soldiers left the US army because they were not allowed to practice their religion.

"One Man's Hero"

[mac_talla]

When you join any armed forces, you take an oath of enlistment that leaves you legally obliged to follow the lawful orders of your superiors. You just don't get to quit in the middle of a war and join the enemy.

Ní raibh siad saorálaí den chuid is mó. They were not volunteers for the most part.

The great majority of these men were recent Irish diaspora from northeastern US ports, escaping extremely poor economic conditions in Ireland. Throughout the Saint Patrick's battalion's active years the Famine was taking place. Irishmen and other immigrants were often recruited directly into military service shortly or sometimes immediately on arrival. Others were conscripted on their way south by General Zachary Taylor, with promises of salaries and land after the war.