General Patrick R. Cleburne is probably the most famous Irish-American ever to lead troops in battle. He was born in Cork County, Ireland, appropriately enough, on Saint Patrick's Day. He had originally desired to be a druggist, but could not obtain his degree as a result of failing the language requirement. Deciding instead on a military career, he joined the British army as an officer in the 41st Regiment of Foot. After several years of service he bought his way out and decided to emigrate to America. He landed in New Orleans, Louisiana with nothing but fifteen dollars and an Irishman's determination. Moving to Arkansas Cleburne became a druggist and finally a land attorney, which brought him much success.
When the American Civil War approached Patrick Cleburne was quick to cast his lot with his new home and fight for the southern Confederacy. He was always adamant that slavery had nothing to do with the war for southerners, most of whom were far too poor to own slaves and certainly would not risk their lives so the wealthy few could keep theirs. Instead, Patrick compared the situation to that of Ireland, an agrarian, less industrialized, less wealthy land of independent-minded people fighting for their rights against the British government that ruled them. This could easily describe the north and south as well.
Cleburne enlisted in the Confederate army and rose rapidly in rank. By the end of the war's first year he was a brigade commander and in 1862 he was promoted to major general, the highest rank he would achieve as a divisional commander in the Army of Tennessee. Many students of the American Civil War believe that General Cleburne was the finest division commander of the entire war. His courage under fire and defensive reliability earned him the nickname, "the Stonewall of the West" in reference to the legendary General Thomas J. Jackson in the eastern theater.
General Cleburne fought with distinction through the battles of the western theater in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia. After the defeat at the Battle of Chattanooga, General Cleburne's division saved the Confederate army from total disaster by fighting a determined rear-guard action that protected the retreating army from her northern pursuers. Cleburne was friends with President Jefferson Davis, which may have helped his career, had it not been for his unpopular politics. In the winter of 1863/64, General Cleburne wrote to the Confederate government urging them, for the survival of the nation, to abolish slavery and enlist former slaves into the Confederate army to fight for their freedom at the end of the war. Unfortunately, the war, and fierce opposition from the north had only further entrenched the southern government on the issue of slavery. Eventually, in 1865 the Confederate Congress did carry out this plan, but by that time it was too little and too late.
Sadly, General Cleburne would not live to find out. The army, under the new command of General Hood, a fire-breathing veteran who believed in no tactic other than attack. At Franklin, Tennessee, outside Nashville, the small and tattered Confederate army faced a massive enemy, well supplied and entrenched in formidable defenses. Nonetheless, Hood ordered a massive assault, and leading the way was General Patrick R. Cleburne. In what has been described as the most spectacular and grand assault of the war, the battered Confederate divisions, with flags flying and bands playing, marched forward and charged the Union lines.
The federal troops could hardly believe their eyes as the massive gray tidal wave crashed toward them, drums beating and bugles blowing. Their position was all but impregnable, nevertheless, through sheer courage and determination the Confederates actually managed to break the Union line, by that time however, they had lost so many men that the charge could no longer be sustained and as Union reinforcements poured in the attack collapsed. The day was November 20, 1864 and a total of six Confederate generals had been killed, leading their troops in the attack, including Patrick R. Cleburne of Ireland. The south mourned as it did for few others, particularly the Irish community who saw Cleburne as their champion. Later, in 1865, when the Confederacy fell conquered and General Lee surrendered his army, a Confederate soldier explained to a norther, "the only reason you won is that you had more Irish than we did". |
