The Story of John Riley, A Mexican War Hero

In Part I we left off with John Riley and the St. Patrick’s Battalion having fought bravely but ultimately losing against U.S. forces in the three day Battle of Monterey. During the surrender negotiations, the Mexicans, in defeat had the upper hand. General Taylor and his forces were deep in enemy territory, with limited supplies and no reinforcements. The Mexican General conceded to abandoned the city of Monterey, and in exchange, General Taylor agreed to free any war prisoners, including those in the St. Patrick’s Battalion that were captured, as well as to a cease fire for two months.

This allowed the St. Patrick’s Battalion along with Mexican forces to regroup and prepare for the next battle. Despite the truce, U.S. forces advanced further south into the next town called Saltillo around November 16, 1846. General Taylor sent advance troops several hundred miles further south into Mexico, reaching a small town called Agua Nueva on December 21, 1846.

On January 27, 1847, Mexican General Santa Anna marched north towards Saltillo to meet General Taylor’s much smaller force. Some of Taylor’s forces were sent to other arenas of the Mexican American war so Santa Ana seized this opportunity to deploy over 20,000 men, including John Riley and the St. Patrick’s Battalion, from San Luis Potosi, north towards Saltillo and General Taylor’s regiment.

American and Mexican forces met just south of Saltillo, Mexico on February 23rd, 1847 in the Battle of Buena Vista. Again, the American forces routed the much larger Mexican forces, making General Zachary Taylor a war hero and a shoe in the 1848 election for President of the United States. Again, the St. Patrick’s Battalion would prove themselves worthy adversaries to the American forces even in defeat. John Riley and his artillery unit took out American Artillery units, managed to capture several pieces of American Artillery and valiantly protected the Mexican Army as they retreated. General Taylor even sent a special unit to take out the St. Patrick’s battalion but failed. After the battle, John Riley and several members of the St. Patrick’s Battalion received the highest honor called the Cross of Honor medal for their bravery against the Americans.

After this battle, Gen. Santa Anna took his forces including the St. Patrick’s Battalion south to protect Mexico City. By now, US forces under General Winfield Scott had captured the City of Veracruz, Mexico after a 20 day siege and were preparing to head south into Mexico City. Mexican Gen. Santa Anna correctly anticipated the route the Americans would take, and the stage was set for the next battle on April 18, 1847 called the Battle of Cerro Gordo. The Americans would again win this battle, with General Scott and his forces eventually capturing the Mexican city of Puebla. Here Gen. Scott would remain for several months while re-supplying and preparing for the next phase into Mexico City.

General Santa Anna deployed troops around the City of Mexico in order to protect it. On August 20, 1847 the Americans and the Mexican forces met at the Battle of Contreras. Gen. Scott’s men attacked the city from the southwest and easily routed the Mexican defenses at this point of entry into the city.

General Santa Anna was now in full retreat, and he ordered some of his troops including two regiments of the St. Patrick’s Battalion to protect his retreat at all costs. The Mexican troops took up position in a convent near the river Churubusco, which means the Place of the War God.

As the Americans advanced, the defending Mexican troops took position inside a nearby convent. From here the Mexican troops including John Riley and his men would fight until the end. The Americans sustained many casualties during this standoff, while the Mexican troops were also losing many men. Here the St. Patrick’s Battalion engraved their names into history with their fearlessness and bravery. When some troops thought of surrendering and attempted to raise a white flag of surrender, it would be quickly stopped by a member of the St. Patrick’s Battalion, to the point of shooting the white flag bearer. When the Mexican troops finished their ammunition, they attempted to fight it out hand to hand. The St. Patrick’s Battalion of 260 had about 75 men left defending the convent at Churubusco, the rest were killed. The U.S. troops managed to negotiate a truce with peace negotiations to prevent further bloodshed, and then took the remaining St. Patrick’s Battalion troops as prisoners in what is now famously known in Mexico as the Battle of Churubusco.

Battle of Churubusco


Churubusco Monastery and Battle

Within weeks, the peace agreement was broken and on September 6, 1847, General Scott’s troops continued their push into Mexico City, while at the same time dealing with the court martial of the St. Patrick’s battalion members who had joined the Mexican Army. Scott and the court martial hearings initially condemned all the men to death as deserters. The Mexican government, other countries and many of the Mexican people protested at the unjust ruling. The San Patricios had endeared themselves to the Mexican people with stories of their fierce defense of the Mexican homeland.

General Scott retried the men of the St. Patrick’s Battalion and condemned those that deserted after the war to death, while those that left their posts before the start of the war to be spared death but instead lashed and branded. So on September 10, 1847, while American troops battled Mexican troops for control of Mexico City, 16 members of the St. Patrick’s Battalion were hanged. John Riley and 6 others who deserted prior to the start of the war were whipped 50 lashes and then branded with a hot iron letter “D” for deserter on the cheek. Unfortunately for John Riley, the first “D” was placed backward so they branded him again correctly on the other cheek.

Then on September 13, 1847, the Americans finally captured Mexico City after the Battle of Chapultepec. The remaining 30 of the St. Patrick’s Battalion members where placed on the gallows with ropes around there necks facing the Chapultepec castle. As the American flag was raised over the Chapultepec castle, it was the last thing 30 St. Patrick’s Battalion members saw as they swung from the gallows.

Members of the St. Patrick's Battalion waitig to hang

John Riley and the rest of the prisoners of war would remain prisoners of the U.S. Army until after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848. With the signing of this treaty, Mexico ceded what is now Texas, California, Arizona, New, Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Colorado. The United States freed its prisoners of war including Riley and the San Patricios, promised to pay Mexico $15 Million dollars, and leave Mexico.

John Riley would remain with the Mexican Army until around 1850 when he was finally honorably discharged. Riley was said to wear his hair long to cover the scars on his cheeks. His last known record was in the City of Vera Cruz, but he was never heard from again after that.

Today, in Many of the battle sites where the St. Patrick’s Battalion fought, there are plaques and memorials honoring these men as martyrs for Mexican freedom. Even in Riley’s home county they now honor and memorialize him and the St. Patrick’s Battalion. As many more have come to learn of these brave men who stood up for their beliefs and values, their legend and story continues thrive and inspire, so much so that in 1999 Hollywood actually made an unreleased movie starring Tom Bringer and Mexican Soap Actress Daniela Romo called One Man’s Hero while in Mexico there a yearly celebrations honoring these brave men.

Plaque in Mexico commemorating the members of the St. Patrick's Battalion

Here is a link to a short video made by a signer/songwriter from Ireland going to Mexico to learn about John Riley. I thought it was interesting, especially to see that people to this day still write and sing songs about John Riley, Patrick Dalton and the St. Patrick's Battalion.

Saol John Riley

And here is a link to that movie on Youtube called One Man's Hero. I watched the whole movie, somehow, but was not as enthused about it. Not sure if it was the cheesy acting or plot line but if any of you brave through the movie, let me know what you think.

11/09/2018
Full Steem Ahead!
@streetstyle

Image Sources:
Pic 1 wikimedia
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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Riley_(soldier)
https://www.thoughtco.com/biography-of-john-riley-2136191
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War
https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/history-of-war/sophie-scholl-and-the-white-rose-movement/
https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/123121
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/why-were-16-irish-men-hanged-in-mexico-in-1847-1.3413278
https://www.americanheritage.com/content/tragic-story-san-patricio-battalion
https://www.telesurenglish.net/multimedia/The-San-Patricios-Mexicos-Fighting-Irish-Who-Fought-US-Empire-20170317-0005.html
https://www.thoughtco.com/mexican-american-war-battle-of-monterrey-2361046
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qis01
https://history.army.mil/brochures/Occupation/Occupation.htm#b9