Hi Puzzlers,
My husband came home last week and asked me this question. “What country, after Ireland, celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day the most?” Ohm, I thought to myself, tough question. After a few seconds I said, Scotland! “Wrong” he says with a smirk, “guess again.” With furrowed eyebrows, I considered all the possible answers and decide that the United States, with our melting pot of people, had to be the correct choice. With a wide-mouth, ear-to-ear grin, my husband shakes his head no, and then taunts me; “You’ll never guess.” Alright fine I say, then, enlighten me with the answer. With both arms swinging in an upward motion befitting a vaudeville star, he says… MEXICO!
Yup, he was right. I would have never guessed Mexico. Bewildered, I asked him how he had learned about this little known factoid. He said he learned it from Dave, one of his co-workers, who had read a book on the subject. WOW! How intriguing, I thought to myself. I just have to share this story with my puzzlers.
Our true story begins in Texas in 1845. At this time the United States was forcibly expanding the Texas territory into Mexico. This annexation is believed to be a primary cause for the Mexican American War (1849-1848). Meanwhile in Ireland, wide spread famine, intolerance and religious prejudices by the ruling British, forced the Irish, in record numbers, to immigrate to America. Once in the United States immigrants were recruited into the Army, with the promise of land, money and citizenship. With tensions increasing in the west, the newly recruited Irish soldiers were sent to Texas to protect and defend the annexed land acquired by the US.
Unfortunately the Irish soldiers would have to endure the same Catholic prejudices by their Protestant officers, and their commanding officer General Taylor, as they did in Ireland under British rule. Some accounts state the Irish would fight the Mexicans through the week, but, on Sundays a truce was called and the soldiers would leave their weapons and cross the border to attend church services and play soccer.
It is estimated that approximately 800 soldiers, led by Captain John Riley, left the US Army to join the Mexican fight against the United States. Many have speculated that the Irish soldiers left because they had made friends with the Mexicans and felt they shared a common religious bond, and understood the struggle of those oppressed by the English and their American descendants. Other speculation states it was due to the Irish soldier witnessing countless crimes against humanity including, murder, rape, robbery and the desecration of many Catholic churches. (These crimes were committed by Texas Rangers and other volunteers that General Taylor, by his own admission, could not control). Still others speculate that the Mexicans offered the soldiers more money, land and privileges.
The United States considered a soldier who left before the war a deserter, any soldier who left his post after the war had begun was considered a defector. Conversely, the Mexicans thought these men to be heroes and called them “Los San Patricios” the Saint Patrick’s Battalion or “Los Colorados” because of their red hair. Armed with the knowledge that if captured they would be put to death; the San Patricios fought fiercely and refused to surrender. Many battles were won by this brigade but ultimately the Mexican war would be won by America and Mexico would be forced to cede half of its land.
The Irish soldiers who were caught and considered deserters received 50 lashes to the bare back and were branded in the face with the letter “D”. Those captured (50) as traitors were hung. These hangings remain the largest lynching in US military history and serve to remind us all of the cost of intolerances against a race, religion or culture.
In honor of the San Patricios, Mexico celebrates both September 12, the anniversary of the lynching and March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day. In addition, a plaque listing the names of the San Patricios who died while fighting can be found in San Angel, a suburb of Mexico City.
Happy Puzzling!
The United States considered a soldier who left before the war a deserter, any soldier who left his post after the war had begun was considered a defector. Conversely, the Mexicans thought these men to be heroes and called them “Los San Patricios” the Saint Patrick’s Battalion or “Los Colorados” because of their red hair. Armed with the knowledge that if captured they would be put to death; the San Patricios fought fiercely and refused to surrender. Many battles were won by this brigade but ultimately the Mexican war would be won by America and Mexico would be forced to cede half of its land.
The Irish soldiers who were caught and considered deserters received 50 lashes to the bare back and were branded in the face with the letter “D”. Those captured (50) as traitors were hung. These hangings remain the largest lynching in US military history and serve to remind us all of the cost of intolerances against a race, religion or culture.
In honor of the San Patricios, Mexico celebrates both September 12, the anniversary of the lynching and March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day. In addition, a plaque listing the names of the San Patricios who died while fighting can be found in San Angel, a suburb of Mexico City.
Happy Puzzling!
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