In 1846, April 12, was Easter Sunday. That was the day Private John Reilly crossed the Rio Grande River by means unknown with a pass in his pocket to attend Roman Catholic Mass at Our Lady of Refuge Cathedral in the center of Matamoros, Mexico.

He never returned to his unit. After that time the Mexicans finally drew the north American blood of two dragoons, just in time to give slave-owning President James Polk the more solid cause he needed to request an already intended Declaration of War against Mexico from Congress on May 9. By then full scale war had already commenced between the U.S. and Mexican armies at Palo Alto on May 9 and Resaca de la Palma on May 9. The major battles of Monterrey, Buena Vista, Veracruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Molina del Ray and Chapultepec then ensued over the next 17 bloody and expensive months before U.S. forces entered Mexico City on September 15, 1847.

The number of deserters and run-away slaves from the U.S. Army to join the San Patricios, or Saint Patrick’s Battalion, or Legion of Strangers, or Legion Estranjera, has been estimate to be a minium of 200 and a maximum of 700. After their last battle, at the Convent of Churubusco, a place built from an old Aztec Temple called “the place of the War God,” there were 72 survivors, including John Riley.

The battle at Churubusco was so violent and uncompromising that both sides welcomed a short Armistice. During that three week reprieve from violence, two Army Court Martial Boards were convened. The General Court Martial proceedings convened at Tacubaya, Mexico, tried 43 deserters. The one convened at San Angel Mexico, tried 29 cases, including that of Private John Reilly.

Nearly all those charged were sentenced to hang.

Because Reilly and others crossed to the Mexican side before the May 9 formal Declaration of War, General Winfield Scott, upon reviewing the sentencing, determined that only 50 deserters should hang. Riley received 59 whip lashes on his back, two brand marks, “D,” one on each side of his face and was made to wear an 8 pound Iron Collar with spokes emanating from it until released from prison at the war’s end. Here is what Riley wrote to his court martial board about Easter Sunday, 1846

From the United States National Archives, Record Group 153, Case 127, John Riley:

“Private John Reilly of K Company, 5th U.S. Infantry, did desert the service of the United States, from camp opposite Matamoros on the 12th of April, 1846, and did afterwards enter the military service of Mexico, then at war (which was not accurate) with the United States, and was captured bearing arms in the Mexican ranks against the forces of the United States on 20th August, 1847, at the Battle of Churubusco. How does the prisoner plead to this charge and specification?”

“Not guilty! I have a written statement for the court in my defense.”

“We will make it part of the record in due time, Private O’Reilly. I want to know one thing. Why did you decide to cross over the river to Matamoros?”

“I had the urge to go to Mass.”

Private Reilly’s written testimony, not read during his August 1847 Court Martial, said:

“I was never a deserter. I was captured by the Mexicans on a Sunday morning, while I was on a pass attending Mass. I was taken as a prisoner to Matamoros and directly to General Ampudia. I told Captain Furlock who served as my interpreter that I was not a deserter. I showed him my pass and asked him to tell General Ampudia that I was captured coming from church. General Ampudia ordered me confined in the Sappers Barracks at Matamoros. For 19 days I had no contact with the others who had already left the American camp, and I lived on six pence a day which was enough for bread and water. On the 29th of April, General Ampudia sent for me to come to his quarters. I told him I didn’t know anything about his country. I said I’d lived for two years in the United States and had served seven months and three days in U.S. ranks. As an Irishman, I am a British subject, and I told him I hoped his officers would treat me as a soldier and set me free. On the 5th of May, I was escorted from prison to General Ampudia. He told Captain Furlock to ask me questions about General Taylor and his men. I told him that I was neither a deserter or spy, and, if he wanted more information, he should ask someone else. On the 19th of May General Ampudia told me that if the Americans caught me in Matamoros, General Taylor would have me shot. He forced me, tied as a prisoner, to walk to Linares. The day after we got to Linares, he had offered me an officer’s commission as First Lieutenant in the Mexican Army. I told him if I fought against the United States, I’d be fighting against my brothers and countrymen. He told me that as an alien to both the United States and Mexico, I should be executed. He had me brought out on the plaza with my hands tied behind my back, and sentenced me to be shot in 25 minutes. General Arista rode up on horse-back and told Ampudia that no execution should take place while he commanded the army. One of General Arista’s assistants untied me and marched me to Arista’s quarters. General Arrista asked me several questions about General Taylor’s army. I told him I did not come as an informer but was a prisoner and hoped to be treated as such. He told me that he saved me from being shot in the Plaza of Linares and that I should not be acting as a smart ass. He said he would turn me back to Ampudia’s brigade and let Ampudia do as he liked with me. General Arista sent me back to prison, escorted by an officer, a Sergeant and six guards. The following morning Captain Furlock came to the prison and advised me to do something to save my life. I told Captain Furlock to tell General Arista that if he spared my life I would try to tell him what he wanted. He sent a guard who marched me up to his quarters.

General Arista asked me how many troops General Taylor commanded. I told him I didn’t know, nor does any other private soldier. He asked me where the soldiers are from. I told him the units are composed of all nations, and that I had known Irish, English, French and Germans in U.S. service. He asked me how I had come into the service. I told him I was an alien to both the United States and Mexico, as a subject of Great Britain. He gave me four days to consider defending the Republic of Mexico, and if I decided not to take up arms for Mexico, I would suffer the punishment my countrymen suffered after the Battle of Labordee in Texas. He did not consider me or other foreigners entitled to be a soldier in the ranks of the United States. He said that all foreigners taken prisoner from U.S. ranks should be treated as traitors to the Mexican Government. That same night he ordered me chained in prison. The next morning between 10 o’clock and 11, General Arista sent a guard to march me back to his quarters with my arms tied behind my back. He met me in his hallway and asked whether or not I would defend the Republic of Mexico. I told him I had never served as a private in my lifetime, with the exception of 7 months and 3 days in the American ranks. Therefore if I was sentenced to death as a British subject, I would sooner serve as a commissioned officer and fight against my brothers and countrymen. No consul belonging to Great Britain was in that part of the country. I thought it best to accept the commission, because I was afraid of being immediately shot. I accepted it.”

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