In October of 1846,
after an additional
50 or so, American
soldiers had
deserted the
American ranks,
bringing the total
number of deserters
to about 100,
14 Santa Anna,
using war powers
bestowed upon him by
the Mexican Congress
directed that two
infantry companies
be formed. 15
The two companies
would form the
Batallón de San
Patricio. Each
company consisted of
one captain, one
lieutenant, two
second lieutenants,
one first sergeant,
four sergeants, nine
corporals, four
cornets and eight
soldiers. According
to a dissertation by
author Dennis Wynn,
the battalion was
formed in October of
1846 as a separate
unit. 16
Additionally,
according to Mexican
army payroll records
for November 1846,
“Voluntarios
Irlandeses” were
receiving pay from
the Mexican
government. 17
Although the San
Patricio Battalion
was made up
predominantly of
Irish immigrants,
other European
nationalities also
comprised the
element. 18
Of the 175 members
of the San Patricio
Battalion, 40 were
from Ireland, 22
from the United
States, 14 from the
German States and
the rest from other
countries. 19
