The Saint Patrick's Battalion (Batallón de San Patricio) - CharroAzteca.com

The Saint Patrick's Battalion (Batallón de San Patricio)

The Saint Patrick's Battalion (Batallón de San Patricio) was a group of Irish and other Catholic immigrants who fought on the Mexican side during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. The battalion was formed due to the harsh treatment that the Irish immigrants received from the American military, as well as their opposition to the war itself.

The Saint Patrick's Battalion consisted of over 200 soldiers, who were mostly Irish immigrants who had come to Mexico to escape poverty and persecution in their home country. They were joined by other Catholic immigrants from Europe and Canada, as well as Native Americans and African Americans who also opposed the war.

The battalion fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Buena Vista and the Battle of Churubusco, where they earned a reputation for their bravery and determination. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Saint Patrick's Battalion put up a fierce resistance against the American forces, earning the respect of both the Mexican people and their enemies.

However, the bravery of the Saint Patrick's Battalion was not enough to change the outcome of the war, and Mexico was eventually forced to cede large portions of its territory to the United States. After the war, many of the surviving members of the battalion were captured and executed as deserters.

The story of the Saint Patrick's Battalion has become a symbol of the struggle for justice and freedom for Irish and other immigrants, and a testament to the bravery of those who fought against oppression. Today, the legacy of the Saint Patrick's Battalion lives on, as a reminder of the sacrifices that immigrants have made in the pursuit of a better life, and of the importance of standing up against injustice.


6 comments


  • Gabriel Camacho

    Catholic Irish Nationalists also demonstrated their international solidarity with the struggle for Palestinian Self Determination.


  • Susan Guerrero

    One of my favorite CDs is a Ry Cooder proj Ct, “San Patricio,” with the great Irish band The Chieftains, Lila Downs, Linda Ronstadt, Carlos Munez, Los Tigers, Los Cezontles, Mariachi Santa Fe de Jesus, etc. thank you for reminding me to blast it through the house!


  • Maggie

    I’ve always loved St Patrick’s Day 💚 Now I have more reason to!!


  • Mercedes Garcia

    Thank you for this history lesson. If you had not posted this , I would never have learned about this part of our history


  • Annette Flores

    Thank you for sharing this history. It was very interesting to learn.


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