Shamrock and Sword –
Robert Ryal Miller
A Book Review by J.C.
Sullivan
A part of
Irish-American, or perhaps Irish-North American history, is little known in the
U.S. but rather well-known in Mexico. The history of the San Patricio Battalion
of the Mexican Army is mythological to many Mexicans and unknown to most
American-Irish.
In the 1840s, conflict was occurring when the governments of
Mexico and the United States could not agree on peaceful terms to resolve their
dispute over land. President Polk moved troops opposite the Mexican border
along the Rio Grande River. Among these troops were many foreign born
soldiers. 25% of them, to be exact, were Irish. War with Mexico was begun in
1846.
Conditions in the American Army were crude – discipline was
meted out horrifically when compared to today’s modern Army. Living in tents in
the southern Texas’ environment was brutal. Food was ill-prepared and water was
brackish. Given these conditions, when soldiers did get some time off in town,
alcohol, handsome women and the promise of land in Mexico lured many Irishmen
to desert the American Army and cross over to Mexico. Some were enticed with
the promise land of their own if they joined the Mexican Army. Unfortunately,
they ended up fighting against the American Army. With the latter victorious in
the war, military court martials settled the fate of the San Patricios.
Robert Ryan Miller’s Shamrock
and Sword (Oklahoma University Press, Norman, OK) is a masterpiece of
scholarly research gleaned from American and Mexican newspaper accounts.
Mexican government records were not made available to him in his research; bribery is a way of life south of our border.
For Mexican readers, Miller, Professor Emeritus of History at
California State University, sets the story straight, correcting their popular
myths. At the same time he educates Americans about what really happened. More
importantly, in this reviewer’s opinion, he devotes a chapter to Why They
Defected. The American War with Mexico produced the highest rate of desertion
in American military history.
A key figure in the San Patricio story is artillerist John
Riley (Reilly), who said he was Galway-born.
According to Miller his home parish might have been Clifden. In 1845,
when he joined the American Army, he stated he was thirty-five years old. This
would give him a birth date of 1817. Miller indicates that by Riley’s own
testimony he was a veteran of the British Army. He had demonstrated previous
artillery expertise. Miller surmises that he might have deserted the British
Army while he was possibly stationed in Canada.
After hostilities between the two nations ceased, the
deserters were sentenced to death. Riley and others were eventually spared.
However, in San Angel, sixteen San Patricos were hung. Two days later the remaining thirty convicted
deserters were hung when the American flag was raised over Churubusco,
signaling the American victory.
Most American soldiers in Mexico approved of the hangings.
As far as they were concerned these men were traitors. But Why They Defected is ably demonstrated
and brought to light by Miller.
Irish men have long
jumped into the military uniform of other nations to escape poverty, for
adventure or for what they have perceived to be righteous causes. The same
reasons Miller postulates are applicable to Irish men throughout history. One can conclude many things from Shamrock
and Sword. This writer believes Irish men, and men the world over, are perhaps
a bit too keen to put on the uniform of another nation for whatever reason.
Throughout history we have done so gallantly and honorably. However, in the
process, we have created many widows and grieving family. And wars go on and on
and on.
My final conclusion
in reading Miller’s story is I have come to believe that war is the natural
state, peace is unnatural. Irish men, men everywhere, need to think differently
about matters and not take matters at face value, i.e. popular thought.
Miller’s work should be taught in military academies. Why
They Defect should be coupled with Why They Fight. Maybe in the process all men
will be less apt to stand up for others when they should be standing up for
their own nation and write another story, Why Aren’t We Being Friends?
-30-
Sullivan is a military
veteran and an internationally-published writer residing in northeast
Ohio. He is fifth-generation American-Irish
on his maternal side and 4th generation on his paternal side.
