Mexico finds possible US remains from 1846-48 war

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 02 Jun 11 | Mark Stevenson/AP

[blueplum]

MEXICO CITY—Archaeologists said Thursday they have found 10 sets of skeletal remains that may belong to U.S. soldiers who died during a battle in the 1846-48 Mexican-American war. The government experts said the shape of the skulls and bone measurements suggest the skeletons belonged to Americans who were killed in the battle of Monterrey on Sept. 21-23, 1846.

Archaeologist Araceli Rivera said the height of the skeletons—between 5 feet, 7 inches (175 centimeters) and 5 feet, 9 inches—and "Caucasian" skull features indicated they were Americans.

[blueplum]

"The war ended in a Mexican defeat in 1848 that, along with Texas' independence struggle, cost Mexico half its territory."

[higgmeister]

Could they be some of the infamous Irish Saint Patrick's Battalion

that deserted the USA and joined with Mexico?

[antceecee]

Uh.... I thought that Hispanics.... mixture of Spanish and native population in Mexico were Caucasian. Looking at race they would be Caucasian right????

[blueplum]

good question! are the remains those of heros of the time, or those of traitors of the time? and if traitors, where should the remains be repatriated to? Ireland? Mexico?

[Political Junkie Too]

Archaeologist Araceli Rivera said the height of the skeletons—between 5 feet, 7 inches (175 centimeters) and 5 feet, 9 inches—and "Caucasian" skull features indicated they were Americans.

That sounds like profiling to me.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

I don't know much about this period, but I read the links from your links, and you could be right.

I've got some reading to do.

The U.S. Defense Department's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, which is responsible for identifying U.S. service members from past conflicts, did not returns calls for comment on the latest find.

I'm thinking they're scrambling to find whatever information the government has on this. Who knows what's been filed away from that period?

-PJ

[higgmeister]

I say Mexico, but how will they ever prove they were San Patricios?

[blueplum]

wiki may have a clue - The San Patricios were dubbed Los Colorados by the Mexicans, in part because of red hair. I wonder if any hairs survived, perhaps in the clothing? A survey of teeth could be enough to DNA-confirm heritage - if the majority of the remains tests to Irish ancestory, they may well be members of the San Patricios.

btw, Thanks for mentioning the St. Patrick's Battalion! I never knew of them before. Facinating stuff, history.

[deadrock]

According to Jared Diamond, the Spanish are part of the 'anatomically correct african' that all Europeans are derived from and the native Mexican is 'Asian.'

The 'Asian' went east, crossed the Baring Strait and populated North America. It is no wonder the Eskimos of my country look Japanese. And the Mexicans have similar features of Eastern world.

[SunkenCiv]

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[kearnyirish2]

Viva Los San Patricios! They put God before country!

[kearnyirish2]

They’d also have to rule out Maximillian’s French troops as well (during our Civil War); they’d leave “European” skeletons, too.

[Oratam]

"... part of the 'anatomically correct african' that all Europeans are derived from ....

I can think of one part of my anatomy that isn't 'african' . . . sadly.

[johngalt42]

If I correctly remember my Mexican War history, the San Patricio Battalion fought under Gen. Scott at Vera Cruz. The desertions started once they were inland past Vera Cruz. Gen. Scott had several San Patricios executed for desertion to send a message to the rest of the battalion. Gen. Scott wrote how frustated he was with the Irish deserting the US Army over their religion. I don’t recall any issues with San Patricios under Gen. Taylor during his campaign into Northern Mexico.

Some of the remains found in Monterey could be Texas Rangers. At least two companies of Texas Rangers were hired by the US to aid the US Army under Gen. Taylor in navigating and fighting in Mexico from Texas. The Texas Rangers, especially the Rangers in West Texas, were famously known for the abilities to fight Indians and Mexicans in that kind of terrain.

That’s what I remember reading anyway.

[johngalt42]

Replace “Monterey” with “Monterrey”. Back to the coffee bar.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Mexico stole their land from the Spanish, who stole it from the Aztecs, who stole it from other tribes, who stole it from other tribes, who going back far enough, stole it from the Kennewick People and exterminated them.

In a world of sovereign States, one owns what you can hold. Reality. Live in it.