Jon Riley
Encyclopedia
Jon Patrick Riley also known as John Patrick O'Riley, (c. 1805 – August 1850), a United States Army
private, was one of the several hundred immigrant Catholic
Irishmen
who defected from the US Army and formed the Saint Patrick's Battalion
to fight for Mexico
in the 1846-48 Mexican-American War. Riley led the battalion as a brevet
major commissioned by Mexico.
, County Galway
, Ireland
about 1805; his name in the original Irish Gaelic is Seán O' Raghailligh. Riley served with the British Army before emigrating to Canada. Connemara
and other rural regions suffered greatly during the Irish Potato Famine, and millions of people emigrated by ship from Ireland to Canada and the United States to survive.
, Riley enlisted in the US Army. Many immigrants were recruited in the 1840s; some served just to earn some money, as they had usually fled famine
and severe poverty in their home countries.
Prior to his desertion, Riley served in Company K of the 5th US Infantry Regiment
. Riley and Patrick Dalton formed the Batallón de San Patricio, or the Saint Patrick's Battalion
. It was made up of mostly Irish and German
immigrants, although it included Catholics from many other countries as well, plus some African Americans who escaped from slavery
in the American South. They fought at several battles and finally at the Battle of Churubusco
, on the outskirts of Mexico City, where more than 70 were captured by US forces and the rest disbanded. Units of the disbanded battalion went on to fight at the Battle for Mexico City
.
Because Riley deserted before the US declared war against Mexico, he was not sentenced to execution following his conviction at the court martial held in Mexico City
in 1847. He testified to deserting because of discrimination
against and mistreatment of Irish Catholics in the US Army, and anti-Roman Catholic sentiment which he had encountered in the United States.
it can be surmised that the circumstance of Riley's life after the war were not very pleasant.
Robert Ryal Miller, author of Shamrock and Sword (1989), found Riley's death certificate in book of burials No. 6, entry 133, of the then parish (now cathedral) of Veracruz
. Like Riley's Mexican army records, it refers to the name "Juan Reley". It reads:
, a bronze sculpture was erected in his birthplace of Clifden, Ireland, as a gift from the Mexican government.
In the 1999 film 1999 One Man's Hero
Riley was portrayed by Tom Berenger
.
Youtube recording of the song
David Rovics also sings of Riley in "Saint Patrick's Battalion" http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=6265039&q=hi&newref=1
's novel St Patrick's Battalion: A Novel of the Mexican-American War, pub. 2008" Jon Riley Zeus of Toronto.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
private, was one of the several hundred immigrant Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Irishmen
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
who defected from the US Army and formed the Saint Patrick's Battalion
Saint Patrick's Battalion
The Saint Patrick's Battalion , formed and led by Jon Riley, was a unit of 175 to several hundred immigrants and expatriates of European descent who fought as part of the Mexican Army against the United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. Most of the battalion's members had...
to fight for Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in the 1846-48 Mexican-American War. Riley led the battalion as a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
major commissioned by Mexico.
Early life and education
Riley was born in ClifdenClifden
Clifden is a town on the coast of County Galway, Ireland and being Connemara's largest town, it is often referred to as "the Capital of Connemara". It is located on the Owenglen River where it flows into Clifden Bay...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
about 1805; his name in the original Irish Gaelic is Seán O' Raghailligh. Riley served with the British Army before emigrating to Canada. Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
and other rural regions suffered greatly during the Irish Potato Famine, and millions of people emigrated by ship from Ireland to Canada and the United States to survive.
Immigration to the United States
Soon after his arrival in the United States in MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Riley enlisted in the US Army. Many immigrants were recruited in the 1840s; some served just to earn some money, as they had usually fled famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
and severe poverty in their home countries.
Prior to his desertion, Riley served in Company K of the 5th US Infantry Regiment
5th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 5th Infantry Regiment is the third-oldest infantry regiment of the United States Army, tracing its origins to 1808...
. Riley and Patrick Dalton formed the Batallón de San Patricio, or the Saint Patrick's Battalion
Saint Patrick's Battalion
The Saint Patrick's Battalion , formed and led by Jon Riley, was a unit of 175 to several hundred immigrants and expatriates of European descent who fought as part of the Mexican Army against the United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. Most of the battalion's members had...
. It was made up of mostly Irish and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
immigrants, although it included Catholics from many other countries as well, plus some African Americans who escaped from slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in the American South. They fought at several battles and finally at the Battle of Churubusco
Battle of Churubusco
The Battle of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras during the Mexican-American War. After defeating the Mexican army at Churubusco, the U.S. Army was only 5 miles away from Mexico City, the capital of the nation...
, on the outskirts of Mexico City, where more than 70 were captured by US forces and the rest disbanded. Units of the disbanded battalion went on to fight at the Battle for Mexico City
Battle for Mexico City
The Battle for Mexico City refers to the series of engagements from September 8 to September 15, 1847, in the general vicinity of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War...
.
Because Riley deserted before the US declared war against Mexico, he was not sentenced to execution following his conviction at the court martial held in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1847. He testified to deserting because of discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
against and mistreatment of Irish Catholics in the US Army, and anti-Roman Catholic sentiment which he had encountered in the United States.
Riley's Death
Unlike the film portrayal of Riley in One Man's HeroOne Man's Hero
One Man's Hero is a 1999 film starring Tom Berenger and directed by Lance Hool. The film has the distinction of being the last one released by Orion Pictures....
it can be surmised that the circumstance of Riley's life after the war were not very pleasant.
Robert Ryal Miller, author of Shamrock and Sword (1989), found Riley's death certificate in book of burials No. 6, entry 133, of the then parish (now cathedral) of Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
. Like Riley's Mexican army records, it refers to the name "Juan Reley". It reads:
"In the H. [Heroic] city of Veracruz, on the thirty first of August of eighteen hundred and fifty, I, Don Ignacio Jose Jimenez, curate of the parish church of the Assumption of Our Lady, buried in the general cemetery the body of Juan Reley, of forty five years of age, a native of Ireland, unmarried, parents unknown; died as a result of drunkenness, without sacraments, and I signed it."
Legacy and honors
In his honor, and to commemorate Saint Patrick's BattalionSaint Patrick's Battalion
The Saint Patrick's Battalion , formed and led by Jon Riley, was a unit of 175 to several hundred immigrants and expatriates of European descent who fought as part of the Mexican Army against the United States in the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. Most of the battalion's members had...
, a bronze sculpture was erected in his birthplace of Clifden, Ireland, as a gift from the Mexican government.
In the 1999 film 1999 One Man's Hero
One Man's Hero
One Man's Hero is a 1999 film starring Tom Berenger and directed by Lance Hool. The film has the distinction of being the last one released by Orion Pictures....
Riley was portrayed by Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger is an American actor known mainly for his roles in action films.-Early life:Berenger was born as Thomas Michael Moore in Chicago to an Irish Catholic family. Berenger's father was a printer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Berenger has a sister, Susan...
.
Music
Riley's story is the subject of Tim O'Brien's song "John Riley" or http://www.jango.com/music/Tim+O+Brien?l=0. It features in his album The Crossing.Youtube recording of the song
David Rovics also sings of Riley in "Saint Patrick's Battalion" http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=6265039&q=hi&newref=1
In fiction
Riley features in James Alexander ThomJames Alexander Thom
James Alexander Thom is an American author, most famous for his works in the Western genre and colonial American history; known for their historical accuracy borne of his painstaking research. Born in Gosport, Indiana, he graduated from Butler University and served in the United States Marine Corps...
's novel St Patrick's Battalion: A Novel of the Mexican-American War, pub. 2008" Jon Riley Zeus of Toronto.