San Patricios book suggestions

[Hmathews]

I am back in college to get a Geology degree, and have found some Texas History regarding irish deserters that are honored in Mexico for helping win a war against Texas. Found this to be very interesting, growing up nearly speaking spanish and always intrigued with Ireland (though often just because of the good beer).

Any book suggestions on this piece of history?

[ShaunMaxwell]

... Mexico didn't win the Mexican War, and the war was between the United States and Mexico (not Texas and Mexico).

SM

[Bruce Scott]

I haven't been able to locate a book but this article may be of interest:

http://www.irlandeses.org/sanpatriciosB.htm

[O'Callaghan]

I have seen a lot more about this somewhere? I had also read that they were deserters.

[S.S.Muldoon]

Funny you should post this... I just cracked open The Rogue's March, John Riley and the St. Patrick's Battalion by Peter Stevens, and it's pretty good so far. I've also read Michael Hogan's The Irish Soldiers of Mexico, which may have been the basis for the Tom Berenger movie "One Man's Hero".

[Hmathews]

Funny you should post this... I just cracked open The Rogue's March, John Riley and the St. Patrick's Battalion by Peter Stevens, and it's pretty good so far. I've also read Michael Hogan's The Irish Soldiers of Mexico, which may have been the basis for the Tom Berenger movie "One Man's Hero".

I will look those up, maybe give them a read over the holiday break! Thanks for the references.

[ibrew4u]

I actually spoke to the Great Grandson of one of those Irish a month or two ago.
His account was that the Irish were sent from England to help the American Army fight the Mexican-American War (why send good Englishmen to fight, when you can send the Irish).
When they got to the front and discovered that the Mexicans were good Catholics too, they deserted to fight with their Catholic brethren against the Americans.
This gentleman's Great Grandfather then remain in Mexico after the war and married into the local culture.
This is how my very latino acquaintance came to be Irish-Mexican-American.