Patrick Ronayne Cleburne was born on March 17, 1828, in the county of Cork, Ireland, son of Joseph Cleburne, physician and farmer. On the side of his mother, Mary Ann Ronayne, he was alleged to be descended from Maurice Ronayne who helped to wring from Henry IV greater liberties in 1406. Patrick's mother died when he was 18 months old, and he was an orphan at 15.
Young Patrick was instructed by tutors and in a private school and at the age of eighteen apprenticed himself to a druggist to learn the trade. Because of his deficiencies in Greek, Latin, and French he failed to pass the examination set for him in the Apothecaries Hall, Trinity College, Dublin.
About 1846 Patrick Cleburne enlisted in the 41st Regiment of Infantry. After three years of service, he obtained enough cash from his father's estate to purchase his discharge and started for America, accompanied by a sister and a half-brother. He landed at New Orleans in 1849 and went to Cincinnati, where he became a druggist’s clerk. After six months he moved to Helena, Arkansas, to a similar position, and two years later he became a partner. Here he found much time for study, conversation, and debate in association with congenial friends, several of whom rose to distinction; indeed, this small town later furnished seven generals to the Confederate army. In 1855, during an epidemic of yellow fever, Cleburne remained to nurse the sick when others fled.
In 1856 he was admitted to the bar and continued in practice until the Civil War, by which time he had acquired considerable property, chiefly inland. In 1860 he helped to organize the Yell Rifles, a military company, and the following January went with it to Little Rock to seize the Federal arsenal. Governor Rector had not planned to seize it just at that time but now demanded its surrender to avoid further trouble. When Arkansas seceded, the Yell Rifles volunteered and Cleburne was soon made captain, then colonel of the 1st (later the 15th) Regiment of Infantry. Early in 1862, he was made a brigadier-general.
At Shiloh, Patrick Cleburne won commendation for his valor and skill. He was wounded while leading his men in a fierce charge at Richmond, Kentucky, but was nevertheless able to participate in the battle of Perryville. On December 12, 1862, he was made a major-general and a few days later showed at Murfreesboro that the confidence of his superiors had not been misplaced. At Ringgold Gap, at his own peril, he saved Bragg’s artillery and wagon train from capture by pursuing the enemy for which he received a vote of thanks from the Confederate Congress. The Confederate ranks were now being more rapidly depleted than they could be filled. Laying aside his rank and appealing to his men, Cleburne succeeded in getting ninety percent of them to reenlist, but others were not equally successful. Many foresaw disaster unless something could be done. Because of this Cleburne wrote a carefully prepared paper, advising that the slaves be freed and used as soldiers. This was read to his fellow officers, some of whom approved, but General Johnston, who had succeeded Bragg, declined to forward it to Richmond on the ground that the question was more political than military in character.
Cleburne was greatly disappointed but had no idea of sending it over the head of his superior. A fellow officer, however, thought that so incendiary a paper should be reported, asked for a copy, and sent it to Richmond. President Davis returned it with the indorsement that he approved and appreciated the patriotic motive of the signers - thirteen besides Cleburne had signed - but that he deemed it inexpedient to make the paper public and asked that it be suppressed. Had this paper never been written, Cleburne, instead of Hood, might have succeeded Johnston in Atlanta. His attention was called to the fact that it might stand in the way of advancement, but he persisted in putting what he believed to be the good of his adopted country above personal ambition. Patrick Cleburnefollowed Johnston on to Atlanta fought with Hood in his three battles for that city, retreated with him to Tennessee.
Patrick Cleburne became prominent for his military service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. His most distinguished service was during the fighting around Chattanooga; at Chickamauga, his men captured and held a position which had resisted several other attacks, and at Missionary Ridge, he repulsed Sherman. General Lee compared him to "a meteor shooting from a clouded sky."
Cleburne was a member of the Episcopal church.
In politics, Cleburne was at first an ardent Whig, but when that party gave place to the Know-Nothings, with their anti-foreign principles, he went over to the Democrats.
Quotations: "If this [Confederacy] that is so dear to my heart is doomed to fail, I pray heaven may let me fall with it, while my face is toward the enemy and my arm battling for that which I know to be right."
Cleburne was modest, never pushing himself or his opinions forward. He was a strict disciplinarian, yet commanded the love and confidence of his men. He is said to have paid out of his own pocket for chickens captured by his men from loyalists in Kentucky.
Patrick Cleburne became engaged to Susan Tarleton of Mobile, Alabama. Their marriage was never to be, as Cleburne was killed during an ill-conceived assault on Union fortifications at the Battle of Franklin.
