Shamrock and Sword: The Saint-Patrick's Battalion in the U.S. Mexican War

by Robert Ryal Miller

Book Overview

Shamrock and Sword is the story of the St. Patrick's Battalion (San Patricios), which was composed primarily of American soldiers who chose to fight under the Mexican flag in the U.S.-Mexican War. More than two hundred American deserters (many of them Irish immigrants) joined the Mexican army to fight against their former countrymen. "Miller thoroughly investigates every legend about the battalion and the individuals who served in it. . . . Miller's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806129646
• ISBN13: 9780806129648
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Valuable Insights From a Very Good Historian

This book chronicles the rise and fall of the Saint Patrick's Battalion, "The San Patricios," a notable arm of the Mexican Army during the War of 1846-1848. Two hundred deserters from the U. S. Army joined the San Patricios and fought against their former comrades in five major battles. As detailed by the author, the history of the San Patricios is a woeful tale of angry, bewildered, naive, or calculating young men, from varied backgrounds, who deserted for a myriad of reasons and paid a fearful price.John Riley, the Irish born originator and organizer of the San Patricios, was a soldier of fortune who survived all of his wars. (Riley had the distinction of serving three different national flags in the 19th century) Two-fifths of the San Patricios were from Ireland and the remainder from other European nations or the United States. All of the deserters had been privates in the U. S. Army and several were noted troublemakers.The casualties suffered by the San Patricios at Churubusco on August 20, 1847, were devastating. Three hours after the battle had commenced, 60% of the two hundred and four men were either dead or had been captured by the Americans. Of the 85 San Patricios taken prisoner, 72 including Major John Riley were tried for desertion. All were found guilty except for one man who was judged insane. Fifty men were condemned to death by hanging, fifteen were to suffer lesser punishments, and five were pardoned.On September 10, Riley and 14 men were brutally whipped and branded with a large "D." Sixteen of the condemned were hanged that day and four others the following day. The remaining men were positioned two days later on a scaffold overlooking Chapultepec Castle awaiting an American victory. When this occurred, 30 San Patricios were to be launched into eternity. A macabre chapter took place when the condemned men viewed the American flag being raised over the castle. They cheered with eyes uplifted and their loyalties reclaimed at the instant of their deaths.The victory over Mexico was celebrated by the U. S. military and by politicians as it was the first war fought and won on foreign soil. It involved the first large scale amphibious landing of troops; it provided the U. S. Army with its first experience in occupying a foreign capital; and it crowned manifest destiny as the harbinger of America's future. Four officers who fought in the war became U. S. Presidents and forty-three officers became noted generals in the American civil war.Mexico lost the war because the balance between politics and the military became unhinged and thus destroyed any semblance of strategy. This resulted in a lack of control on the battlefield. Few Mexican commanders had any idea as to what was happening during most battles. Their tactics were poorly conceived and doomed to failure although the bravery of the Mexican soldier was unquestioned. The difference between the two sides was the fact the President of Mexico also conducted fiel

The book is well researched and never lags in its narrative.

I loved the book and God knows I love the Irish but nary a word written about the German contribution. The Germans, because of religion and persecution, had more in common with the Irish and the Mexicans than they did with their WASP comrades-in-arms. The Germans made up fifty per cent of the San Patricio Battalion, yet you never hear a word about it.

The St. Patrick's Battalion in Mexico

A terrific book on a little known subject. The tale is compelling and tragic, yet filled with conviction and courage in a time that was alive with turmoil. Excellent research, written in a crisp objective fashion. Excellent reading. For more details, "Rogues March" by Peter Stevens is another suberb addition on this subject.

Riveting history of a largely forgotten military unit

"Shamrock and Sword"explores the US-Mexican War, using the Saint Patrick's Batallion as his vehicle. The Batallion, or San Patricios, was a military unit fighting for Mexico comprised of mostly US Army deserters. Lauded in Mexico and reviled in the United States, the San Patricios became a force to be reckoned with and sometimes even feared by their former comrades-in-arms. Robert Ryal Miller uses the history of the Batallion to also examine the US-Mexican war itself, which provides an excellent overview of a conflict given little attention in our school's history books. Miller deftly captures the fever of manifest destiny which was gripping the USA at that time to show how the San Patrcios felt more sympathy with their Mexican enemies than with what they viewed was a cruel and personally oppressive United States Army. This is historical narration at its best. The San Patricios were a puzzling aberration, and Miller does their story justice with a crisp, objective narration balanced by careful research. HIghly recommended.

An excellent book that all libraries should have.

A great book detailing an interesting, yet unknown aspect of an event that took place during the U>S. Mexican conflict in 1847. What is interesting is that how the deserters were dealt with. Excellent maps that the reader can better understand the contentsof the book. A book vital to any library that is looking for information on both the U. S. Mexican War 1847 and on this particular battal ion