A novel of the mexicanamerican war, written in 2008. Patrick s battalion is a critical piece of the history of the irishamerican experience. Editions of saint patricks battalion by james alexander thom. John riley saint patricks battalion all about history. This is a live version of a song originally recorded on my album, living in these times in 2001. Thoms novel, saint patricks battalion, ia a refreshing new look into the u. Signed hardcover first edition novel of the irish in the mexicanamerican war of 18461848, a presentation copy inscribed by the author to our dear friend and dated xmas 1960. Patricks battalion was a group of immigrants, mostly of irish. Patricks battalion, a unit of the mexican army, was composed of mainly of irish catholic immigrants who deserted the u. Quick to capitalize on this, general santa anna established a saint patricks battalion in the mexican army and encouraged the irish to desert the u. It is june 1845, and paddy quinn is a camp boy for the american armywhich, by order of president polk, is bound for mexico.
Saint patricks battalion were proud and doomed, irish rogue cannoneers under a green silk banner, fighting against their former comradesinarms to defend catholic mexico against the invading u. During the mexicanamerican war, irishamericans fought. Several documentaries have been made about the life of john rely, amongst them, a halfhour documentary called saol john riley the life of john riley was broadcast on the. What caused saint patricks battalion to fight for mexico.
The chief organizer of what became saint patricks battalion was an irish immigrant named john riley. Saint patricks battalion saint patricks battalion audiobook, by james alexander thom. Patrick was born in britain to wealthy parents in the late 4th century. Padrig was a fifthcentury romanobritish christian missionary and bishop in ireland. Folk, bluegrass and country songwriter tim obriens song john riley, features in his album the crossing independent musician and anarchist david rovics also sing of riley in the song saint patricks battalion the american punkrock band street dogs sing about the battalion and riley in san patricios on their 2008 album state of grace. Patricks battalion fights for the enemy in the wars major campaigns. Narrated by two soldiers on opposite sides of the mexicanamerican war of 1846, saint patricks battalion tells the true but littleknown story of an irish immigrant who deserted from the u. In a monastery built by franciscan monks on the site of an aztec war god s temple, a rogue battalion of cannoneers prepares to make its final stand along a strategic road to mexico city reviled by its enemies and lionized by its allies, saint patrick s battalion will fight under an emerald green flag with the fury of the proud and. Saint patricks battalion book by james alexander thom. Patricks battalion was a group of immigrants, mostly of irish descent, who fought alongside the mexican army during the mexicanamerican war 18461848. Go into more details about the saint patrick s battalion flag, of which there was reportedly more than one. Reviled by its enemies and lionized by its allies, saint patricks battalion will fight under an emerald green.
Thoms description of the men mostly irish catholics who comprised the st. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Patrick s battalion, a force made up of fellow deserters, primarily irish and german catholics. Mexican war by robert ryal miller 1989, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Quick to capitalize on this, general santa anna established a saint patrick s battalion in the mexican army and encouraged the irish to desert the u.
Patricks battalion, a force made up of fellow deserters, primarily irish and german catholics. Saint patricks battalion, a historical novel by krueger, carl. Patrick s battalion was an elite artillery unit which inflicted great damage on the americans during the battles of buena vista and churubusco. During the mexicanamerican war, irishamericans fought for mexico in the saint patricks battalion anticatholic sentiment in the states gave men like john riley little reason to.
Saint patricks battalion cardinal publishers group. In a monastery built by franciscan monks on the site of an aztec war gods temple, a rogue battalion of cannoneers prepares to make its final stand along a strategic road to mexico city. Veteran historical novelist thom sign talker, follow the river leads readers through the conflicted mid 19th century war with mexico, as seen through the first person viewpoints of paddy, an impoverished young camp boy for the american army, and a young mexican cadet, augustin. At the time the us army segregated its soldiers, and had reportedly a lot of bad encoun. Saint patricks battalion by james alexander thom 2006. This is the ogham alphabet and its how the preirish used to write. John patrick riley sean o raghailligh emigrated to the united states and immediately was recruited into the us army since he was an experienced artilleryman. Saint patrick s battalion download ebook pdf, epub. In june of 1845, a group of immigrant americanscalled the san patricios, or st. Patricks battalion was an elite artillery unit which inflicted great damage on the americans during the battles.
Choosing for different reasons to fight under the mexican flag, all were treated as deserters, and those captured were courtmartialed by the u. Saint patrick s battalion saint patrick s battalion audiobook, by james alexander thom. Patricks day, and mexican historians recounted to us the battalions history as we sat in their barracks, now a furniture store. Mexican war relates that, for rather minor transgressions, a foreign. Patricks battalion, we are provided with a realistic account of the invasion itself and of the noble reasons that scores of irishborn u. During the mexicanamerican war, irishamericans fought for. Theres so much about this story that needs to be told. Click download or read online button to get saint patrick s battalion book now. Patricks battalionfights for the enemy in the wars major campaigns. David rovics saint patrick battalion lyrics genius lyrics. Veteran historical novelist thom sign talker, follow the river leads readers through the conflicted mid 19th century war with mexico, as seen through the first person viewpoints of paddy, an impoverished young camp boy for the american army, and a young mexican cadet. The saint patricks battalion formed and led by john riley, was a unit of 175 to several hundred.
Patrick s battalion fights for the enemy in the war s major campaigns. Saint patricks battalion by james alexander thom fantastic fiction. Mexican war, remembered by americans as an illustration of manifest destiny, the inevitable extension of the american frontier. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Oct 19, 2015 provided to youtube by cdbaby saint patricks battalion the elders story road. In a monastery built by franciscan monks on the site of an aztec war god s temple, a rogue battalion of cannoneers prepares to make its final stand along a strategic road to mexico city reviled by its enemies and lionized by its allies, saint patrick s battalion will fight under an emerald green flag with the fury of the proud and the damned and as james. Saint patricks battalion in the mexican war world history. Army and was joined across enemy lines by hundreds of comrades. Patrick, apostle of ireland 1911 has several beautiful pictures, two of which are included in our coloring download. Lee sharing headlines with a deserting cannoneer, john riley.
Contrary to what has been supposed, however, the saint patricks battalion included men of a dozen nationalities. Army and fled to mexico during the war, which lasted from 184648. Saint patricks battalion by james alexander thom goodreads. John riley circa 18051850 was an irish soldier who deserted the american army just before the outbreak of the mexicanamerican war. Through peter stevenss scholarship, the rogues march shines a spotlight on a period of american history that has been virtually buried in myth and, yes, shame, for more than a century.
I never heard of the st patricks battalion until hearing an npr broadcast about the book of the same name by james alexander thom. In this way gods name and patricks were once more magnified. It is june 1845, and paddy quinn is a camp boy for the american. Mar 15, 2019 during the mexicanamerican war, irishamericans fought for mexico in the saint patricks battalion anticatholic sentiment in the states gave men like john riley little reason to continue. He was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to ireland as a slave.
As saint patricks day approaches, my thoughts are on the irish. Perhaps history shall never reveal the fate that finally befell john riley, but history has revealed and will continue to show that he was a man of courage, principle, and heroism. James alexander thom is one of the finest historical novelists writing today. Known as the apostle of ireland, he is the primary patron saint of ireland, the other patron saints being brigit of kildare and columba. Go into more details about the saint patricks battalion flag, of which there was reportedly more than one. It is full of catholic faith in gods power and saint patricks power. Futhermore, a book published in 1860just twelve years after the war, the. My name is john riley ill have your ear only a while i left my dear home in ireland it was death, starvation or exile and when i got to america it was my. Saint patrick s battalion download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Patricks battalion of the mexicanamerican, a handful of irish.
Patricks battalion was an elite artillery unit which inflicted great damage on the americans during the battles of buena vista. Collectively, this was the largest mass execution in united states historythe hanging of 38 sioux at the conclusion. Led by riley, a corps of irishman called the san patricios in english, st. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. The hero here, michael fitzgerald, is a man at first unwilling to. Saint patricks battalion by james alexander thom, william. Afterwards, we sat in the square, as our friends played mexican ballads.
Reviled by its enemies and lionized by its allies, saint patricks battalion will fight under an emerald green flag with the fury of the proud. Like the soldiers of the st patricks battalion, he fought for a countrys freedom and in defence of his. Saint patricks battalion audiobook by james alexander. Fed up with mistreatment and drawn by a catholic bond, irish, german, and other soldiers join mexico. Saint patricks day, or the feast of saint patrick irish. For many years the us government the existence of this group of immigrants, many irish, who fought on the side of mexico to the us they were deserters. The history of st patrick, the patron saint of ireland who was born in the second half of the 4th century, is inevitably sketchy. Even his year of birth is uncertain, with some scholars hitting on 373 while others calculate 390. Book would have been improved if the author would have added a section at the end explaining which events and people were real and which were fictional as well as how the ordr of events depicted in the book conformed to reality. In all, 50 saint patricks battalion members were officially executed by the u. I never heard of the st patrick s battalion until hearing an npr broadcast about the book of the same name by james alexander thom. It has been frequently said that everyones irish on st.
In saint patrick s battalion, james alexander thom shines new light on this often forgotten chapter in american history. Mar 16, 2018 robert ryal millers book shamrock and sword. Thom s description of the men mostly irish catholics who comprised the st. Patrick s battalion, we are provided with a realistic account of the invasion itself and of the noble reasons that scores of irishborn u. He was one of the first american soldiers to change sides, swimming across the rio grande in early. Nevertheless, he is venerated in the catholic church. About the author james alexander thom is the author of seven novels that have sold a combined total of more than two million copies. Irishamericans fought for mexico in the saint patricks battalion. Riley and the others deserted because treatment of foreigners in the us army was very harsh and because. Thom s novel, saint patrick s battalion, ia a refreshing new look into the u. Another good historical fiction this time about the mexican american war. Saint patricks battalion audiobook by james alexander thom.
Collectively, this was the largest mass execution in united states historythe hanging of 38 sioux at the conclusion of the dakota war of 1862 appears to be the largest execution by hanging at a single event. Provided to youtube by cdbaby saint patricks battalion the elders story road. The saint patricks battalion memorial in mexico city. But when they are captured, their resolve is tested in the extreme, as are paddy s loyalties to his country and to the man he most admires. So much in fact, that ive determined to write a childrens book about them. Zachary taylors army and fought on the opposite side in the mexicanamerican war, under the leadership of the elusive, charismatic james riley.
It is remembered differently by mexicans, who lost a substantial portion of their territory to an invading army. Saint patricks battalion paperback november 1, 2008. Riley and the others deserted because treatment of foreigners in the us army was very harsh and because they felt that. Zachary taylors army and fought on the opposite side in. He was one of the first american soldiers to change sides, swimming across the rio grande in early april 1846, even before war was officially declared. Led by riley, a corps of irishman called the san patriciosin english, st. Most of the battalions members had deserted or defected from the u.
An historical novel taken from a part of the mexicanamerican war involving irish immigrants deserting the american army to fight with mexico. Saint patricks battalion audiobook listen instantly. Fiction books and even a 1999 action movie, one mans hero, glamorize their actions. The hero here, michael fitzgerald, is a man at first unwilling to turn against the american cause for which he volunteered. Saint patricks battalion by james alexander thom book cover, description, publication history. Saint patricks battalion januaryfebruary 2007 william garwood the mexican conflict would catapult a general into the white house as the ongoing campaign saw young officers such as u. In colonial and western historicalfiction, riley features in james alexander thoms novel st patricks battalion. Patricks battalion, 184648 by peter f stevens book. Feb, 2014 this is a live version of a song originally recorded on my album, living in these times in 2001. A stirring fictional account of the amazing reallife story of john riley, an irishman who led his men to desert the american military during the mexicanamerican war, as seen through the eyes of two memorable narrators.
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