Biographical

Patrick Cleburn

When Patrick Cleburne moved to America in 1849 he settled in Helena, Arkansas, a port city on the Mississippi River south of Memphis, Tennessee. At first a pharmicist, Cleburne joined a law firm in 1856, practicing law in Arkansas.

Civil War

When the American Civil War broke out in 1861 (Civil War - 1861) he had risen to senior partner in the law firm of Cleburne, Scaife and Magnum. Joining the Yell Rifles as a private, the respected lawyer was elected Captain and in less than a year was placed in charge of all Confederate troops in Arkansas by Georgian William Hardee. General Hardee also secured Patrick Cleburne his commission as brigadier general in the Confederate Army. One of two foreign born officers to attain the rank of major general in the Confederate armed forces, he was recognized as a skilled combat officer and distinguished himself in many battles.

Before Georgia

At the battle of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), Patrick Cleburne . Wounded on the second day of fighting at Richmond, Cleburne returned to his troops in time to command them during the pivotal Confederate engagement at Perryville

Chickamauga

Late on the first day of battle, Patrick Cleburne, division commander under Leonidas Polk, struck George Thomas's line and drove it back about a mile. Only the dark of night, which prevented Cleburne's men from telling friend from foe stopped the general.

Missionary Ridge

General Ulysses S. Grant gave William Tecumseh Sherman a plum assignment at Chattanooga. The red-haired Ohioan was to attack Braxton Bragg's flank on the northeast end of Missionary Ridge, the last of a series of battles in the Tennessee city of Chattanooga. After taking most of the morning to gain control a hill from Pat Cleburne's men, Sherman realized he had taken Billy Goat Hill instead of Missionary Ridge. Cleburne's men held the right flank on Missionary Ridge, repelling General Sherman's attack in spite of being outnumbered 10 to 1, forcing a dangerous frontal assault on the mountain from Orchard Knob. Unfortunately, Bragg had not placed his men to defend against such an assault and the attack pierced the Confederate line at the center of the mountain.

Ringgold Gap

In spite of bearing the brunt of General Sherman's attack on the previous day, Bragg chose Cleburne to defend his rear at Ringgold Gap. Personally placing his men during the night, Cleburne's men watched as "Fighting Joe" Hooker's men advanced in a standard 4-abreast formation towards their fortified position. As the forward elements of the Union army came within range, Cleburne gave the order to "open fire." In the first volley a hundred or more Union soldiers fell. Quickly, he repositioned his men to his flanks, correctly anticipating Hooker's standard attempt to probe the flanks. Upon finding both flanks heavily fortified Hooker withdrew, deciding to wait for his artillery, a day behind the infantry. Patrick Cleburne won the Battle of Ringgold Gap although Hooker had 3 men for Cleburne's 1.

Atlanta Campaign

He repeatedly faced Sherman's advancing troops during the Atlanta Campaign. After Cleburne's troops absorbed the Union assault at Pickett's Mill, he was moved to the Confederate left and was involved in the skirmishing along the Dallas line.

After Atlanta

Nashville Campaign

During the Nashville Campaign he succeeded to the command of Hardee's Corps. On his way north during this campaign, Cleburne stopped at a church in Maury County, Tennessee, and by local tradition was heard to comment at the cemetery of Saint John's Church that, "it is almost worth dying for to be buried in such a beautiful place." Cleburne was killed in battle a few days later at Franklin, Tennessee, on November 30, 1864 and buried here until later disinterred.

His sobriquet(nickname) was "Stonewall Jackson of the West". It would have been more accurate to call Jackson "Pat Cleburne of the East". Fighting on the western front Cleburne generally got less glory than generals in the east. Fighting under Braxton Bragg, Joseph E. Johnston, and John Bell Hood, arguably the most incapable succession of commanding officers, Cleburne repeatedly demonstrated his abilities. Fighting for the losing side he got less attention and coverage than the Union generals. But Cleburne fought for a cause(states rights), and one in which he firmly believed.

One other event affected how he was viewed during and after the war. Stationed at Tunnel Hill, Ga. after the defeat at Chattanooga, Cleburne, leading a group of commissioned officers, proposed drafting Negroes into the Confederate Army in return for their emancipation. He reasoned that in one stroke they could increase the size of the army and eliminate a reason for the Federals to fight. While it is doubtful that the resolve of President Lincoln would have been altered (he was fighting to preserve the Union, not to end slavery), the proposal caused quite a backlash in the south and possibly affected the length of the war. When Jefferson Davis decided to remove Johnston from command during the Battle of Atlanta, he selected John Bell Hood over Pat Cleburne in part because of this proposal.

Today no statue exists for this icon of the Confederacy and many of the battlefields on which he fought are unprotected. His stand at Missionary Ridge, the rearguard action at Ringgold Gap, bloody Pickett's Mill...

"Through the Patrick Cleburne Society, we hope to rectify this oversight, and preserve for future generations not only the battlefields where Cleburne's Division won immortality, but the story of the man who led it."
Patrick Cleburne Recommended reading on the Civil War General

Biographies
Biographies of famous, not so famous and infamous people from the North Georgia area or who had an effect on North Georgia

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Braxton Bragg
George Thomas
Patrick Cleburne
Ulysses S. Grant
William Tecumseh Sherman

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