Ch. 1 · Irish Origins And British Service

Patrick Cleburne.

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Patrick Ronayne Cleburne was born in Ovens, County Cork, Ireland on the 16th of March 1828. He was the second son of Dr. Joseph Cleburne, a middle-class physician of Protestant Anglo-Irish ancestry. His mother died when he was only 18 months old, leaving him an orphan at age 15. He followed his father into the study of medicine but failed his entrance exam to Trinity College of Medicine in Dublin in 1846. This failure led him to enlist in the 41st Regiment of Foot of the British Army shortly after. He rose to the rank of corporal while serving at Fort Westmorland on Spike Island in Cork Harbour. The fortress served as a convict depot during the Great Irish Famine. Cleburne witnessed the wretched state of those filling the prison cells and became motivated to emigrate with his family to America.

Immigration To Arkansas

Three years after joining the British Army, Cleburne bought his discharge and emigrated to the United States. He traveled with two brothers and a sister before settling in Helena, Arkansas. There he worked as a pharmacist and quickly gained acceptance into the town's social order. During this time, he formed close friendships with Thomas C. Hindman who later became a Confederate major general. The two men created a business partnership with William Weatherly to buy a newspaper called the Democratic Star in December 1855. In 1856, Cleburne and Hindman were both wounded by gunshots during a street fight in Helena with members of the Know-Nothing Party following a debate. Cleburne was shot in the back but turned around and killed one of his attackers. After recovering, they appeared before a grand jury and were exonerated from all charges. By 1860, he had become a naturalized citizen and a practicing lawyer popular with local residents.

Rise Through Confederate Ranks

When secession reached a crisis point, Cleburne sided with the Southern states out of affection for people who adopted him rather than love of slavery. He joined the Yell Rifles militia company as a private soldier and was soon elected captain. His unit participated in seizing the U.S. Arsenal at Little Rock in January 1861. When Arkansas left the Union, the Yell Rifles became part of the 1st Arkansas Infantry which was designated the 15th Arkansas in late 1861. Cleburne was promoted to brigadier general on the 4th of March 1862. He served at the Battle of Shiloh leading a brigade on the left side of the Confederate line. Later that fall, he fought at the Battle of Richmond where a minie ball pierced his left cheek and smashed several teeth. Despite this injury, he recovered to participate in the Battle of Perryville. He was promoted to major general on December 13 after his division routed the Union right wing at the Battle of Stones River.

The Emancipation Proposal

By late 1863, it had become obvious to Cleburne that the Confederacy was losing the war due to growing limitations of manpower and resources. In 1864, he dramatically called together leadership of the Army of Tennessee to propose emancipating all slaves upon reasonable terms within such reasonable time. Cleburne argued this would enlist their sympathies and thereby recruit them into the Confederate Army to secure Southern independence. He stated that emancipation did not have to include black equality since necessity and wise legislation would ensure relations between blacks and whites would not materially change. The proposal met with polite silence at the meeting while word leaked out without official recognition. General William H. T. Walker vigorously attacked the plan as an abolitionist conspiracy who strongly supported slavery. Walker persuaded commander Braxton Bragg that Cleburne was politically unreliable and undeserving of further promotion. Three times in the summer of 1863 he was passed over for corps commander and remained a division commander until his death.

Death At Franklin

Prior to the campaigning season of 1864, Cleburne became engaged to Susan Tarleton of Mobile, Alabama though their marriage never occurred. He was killed during an ill-conceived assault on Union fortifications at the Battle of Franklin just south of Nashville, Tennessee on the 30th of November 1864. His horse was shot out from under him before he advanced on foot with his sword raised toward the Union line. Accounts later said he was found just inside the Union line after being carried back to a field hospital along the Columbia Turnpike. Confederate war records indicate he died either of a bullet to the abdomen or possibly through his heart. When Confederates found his body, it had been picked clean of any valuable items including his sword, boots, and pocket watch. William J. Hardee stated where this division defended no odds broke its line and where it attacked no numbers resisted its onslaught save only once.

Posthumous Legacy And Memorials

Cleburne's remains were first laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia, Tennessee according to a letter written to General Cheatham by Judge Mangum after the war. At the urging of Army Chaplain Bishop Quintard, his remains were moved to St. John's Episcopal Church near Mount Pleasant, Tennessee where they remained for six years. Cleburne had observed the church during the Army of Tennessee's march into Tennessee and commented that it was the place he would like to be buried because of its great beauty and resemblance to his Irish homeland. In 1870, he was disinterred and returned to his adopted hometown of Helena, Arkansas with much fanfare. He was buried in the Confederate section of Maple Hill Cemetery overlooking the Mississippi River. Several geographic features are named after Patrick Cleburne including Cleburne County in Alabama and Arkansas and the city of Cleburne, Texas which also features a statue of him.

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1828 births 1864 deaths 19th-century British Army personnel 41st Regiment of Foot soldiers American people of Anglo-Irish descent Confederate States Army major generals Confederate States of America military personnel killed in the American Civil War Irish Anglicans Irish emigrants to the United States Irish soldiers in the British Army Irish soldiers in the Confederate States Army Military personnel from County Cork People from Helena, Arkansas People of Arkansas in the American Civil War

Common questions

When and where was Patrick Cleburne born?

Patrick Ronayne Cleburne was born in Ovens, County Cork, Ireland on the 16th of March 1828. He was the second son of Dr. Joseph Cleburne, a middle-class physician of Protestant Anglo-Irish ancestry.

Why did Patrick Cleburne leave Ireland for America?

Patrick Cleburne witnessed the wretched state of prisoners at Fort Westmorland during the Great Irish Famine which motivated him to emigrate with his family to America. He enlisted in the British Army after failing his entrance exam to Trinity College of Medicine in Dublin in 1846 before buying his discharge three years later.

How did Patrick Cleburne die during the Civil War?

Patrick Cleburne was killed during an assault on Union fortifications at the Battle of Franklin just south of Nashville, Tennessee on the 30th of November 1864. Confederate war records indicate he died either of a bullet to the abdomen or possibly through his heart while advancing on foot with his sword raised toward the Union line.

What controversial proposal did Patrick Cleburne make in 1864?

In 1864 Patrick Cleburne proposed emancipating all slaves upon reasonable terms within such reasonable time to recruit them into the Confederate Army. The plan met with polite silence and was attacked by General William H. T. Walker as an abolitionist conspiracy which led to Cleburne being passed over for corps commander three times.

Where is Patrick Cleburne buried today?

Patrick Cleburne is buried in the Confederate section of Maple Hill Cemetery overlooking the Mississippi River in Helena, Arkansas. His remains were disinterred from St. John's Episcopal Church near Mount Pleasant, Tennessee in 1870 and returned to his adopted hometown with much fanfare.

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