John Riley & the San Patricios

The Saint Patrick’s Battalion, also known as the San Patricios, was a hard-fighting unit of foreign soldiers, mostly Irish, who deserted the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. From the Siege of Fort Texas to the Battles of Monterey, Buena Vista, Cera Gordo, and beyond, these Irishmen served with valor and distinction. Surrounded, outgunned, far from their homeland, and branded as traitors, the men of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion had nothing to lose. But why? Why’d they turn their backs on their adopted country and join forces with the enemy? What would become of the San Patricios who were ultimately captured? And who exactly was their leader, John Riley?    Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/   Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Street Dogs | San Patricios - https://youtu.be/1asy-BWEaAM?si=V7s4M49Yf7kdP7Zc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Om Podcasten

The Wild West Extravaganza is a weekly history podcast that explores the real-life people and events of the Old West. You'll meet shootists and scoundrels, lawmen with more grit than glory, drifters, dreamers, and the Indigenous peoples whose presence shaped the land long before the rest came calling. These aren't dime-novel yarns, but the kind of history that sticks with you—messy, human, and stubbornly true. So, saddle up and discover the real Wild West—the good, the bad, and the ugly.