The Louisiana Democrat., 1867-04-24

!, A Sketch Of Major Gen. ?. R
Cleburne.
From the Land We Love, for April.
Patrick r. Cleburne deserves promi
Inent place among the great heroes VIII,
Ihave illustrated Southern heroism an,
Southern history. His name brings
thrill of the heart to every true son of th'
South, just as his presence brought success
. wherever he moved on the field of battle
Cleburne is here p meant that" ali wa!
we'll" Where he was, no masses of tn,
enemy could br ak bis lines, no matter how
fearful the odds. When he lead column
its onslaught was irresistible and neyel
failed to carry the opposing lines save a
one point only, and there is the grave O.
the Stonewa,l Of the Western army, anG
his devoted division.
i 1t is not the intention Of the writer oil
this article to give history of P. R. Gle.
bume's life previous to the beginning o1
tho past war; for Of that he is ignorant in
the main; nor of the achievements Of Maj
4 Gen. P. r. Cleburne during the. war, for
that is part Of the history Of the short
lived Southern Confederacy, written in the
stricken hearts Of all her mourning sons
and daughters. But we propose to give to
the world some few incidents in the life oil
this remarkable man, that might be other
wise consigned to undeserved oblivion, yet
which give indications of character, that
may be considered Of interest sufficient to
merit place among the chronicles of the
Land We Love-"
Gen. Cleburne was rather above than un-
der the medium height, perhaps FIVE feet
ten or eleven inches -sparely made. grow
ing thinner as the war progressed, with the
constant wear of mind and body uDceasing-
y restless. BE had gray eye Of very
changeful expression, sometimes as cold
and dead as that of fish, yet when excl
ted, it flashed like a broadsword. His hair
that was originally black became very gray
before the close of the war, and being
closely cropped, it stood above his forehead
in bristly individuality. High cheek bones
with thin lower visage, rather sallow CON-
plexion, with but little beard, and remark
ably large ears; with long limbs and heavy
emphatic steps in walking, he was not one
who IN appearance or manners would have
graced the boudoir or the ballroom. He
could have been but little over forty years
old, at the time Of his death. His accent
would at any time have betrayed his nativ-
lty, but when giving emphatic orders on
the field, the harsh rolling of his Rs was
sometimes. Startling. Not one Of his SOL
diers but can recall the peculiar intonation
given to his command Foracard MAR-R-
CHIP the first word, being syllabled with
remarkable distinctness, while the latter
was given with the broadest brogue imag-
Unable. Nor can we forget his truly Irish
rendering (bar-r-r-'D of the word barrel =
when lecturing his class of officers on the |
rlfie, it,. parts, uses, etc. The loss of two
front teeth carried away by mimic ball at
the battle Of Richmond, Ky.,) gave his
voice o kissing. sound, when speaking hur-
riedly or angrily, that was peculiarly un-
pleasant Habitually thoughtful and grave,
he was considered cold and repellant in
manner by those who only met him in his
official capacity but to his intimate friends,
he was genial and pleasant in conversations;
with, at times real sparkling of Irish with
and humor that would bring the hearty
laugh fran auditors responsive to his rath-
Or grim smile.
The writer recalls a broad laugh Of Gen
sral Y. s at witticism of his always warm
friend and admirer, Lieut.. General w. j.
Hardee. Owing to General G. Is methodical
habits !: and military precision ofmoyements,
lls division vas always last Of "Hardee's
Corps to arriveon the drill-feld, for which
'eason General Hardees gave him the
'obriquet Of /" the late General Cleburpe.',
While General Jos. 3. Johnstons army |
ay at Dalton, Ga., and g Cleburnes Divis-
on occupied the advance at Tunnel Hill,
,he writer was on one occasion at division
headquarters" in familiar conversation
With Gen. 9. and one Of his staff, when he
Gen. o. chanced to make some very I
'propos quotation from well known
'oet. On an expression Of surprise that
le should be so familiar with what, we sup
'osed, he considered very useless branch
II literature, he rather thoughtfully re-
marked /: Cali my knowledge Of this char
lcter OF reading was acquired during six
'r eightEmonths' confinement in the large
lospital near Gravesend, England"
In reply to the interrogation, rather ex-
PRESSED incur faces than spoken, he went
m to say: Il
'Ike good many others ofmy unfortu-
late countrymen, after crossing the channel
Q better my fortune, / found that more
liificnlt than ! had imagined, so / was
to accept the usual dernier re-
ort and join the British army, when was
bout twenty-five years old.a He here
dded good deal Conformation relative
Q the English army, its drills, discipline, II
tc., that cannot be recalled to mind, but I
i himself he said: II was at one time pro
noted, for good conduct, to the rank OIL {
orporal. Twas prouder Of that corporals i
ommission than that Of major general,
'ut, disgraceful to tell, ! was cashiered and
educed to the ranks" II
Ofcourse, we expressed the utmost anx- /,
ETY. to know the cause Of his disgrace. /
With pretended reluctance, and with the t
emark that bis experience might prove I
I benefit to Vi" he related the cirrcum- t
tance as follows q
Ny regiment had been ordered out for a
rill Nth kndpsacks Che then enumerated 4
be various articles that the army regula- Ia
IONS required to be kept in the knapsack,
ON oyercoat to blacking.brush.) As / a
ad been unwell for several days, disliked '
cry much to carry through q. fatiguinp I
rill knapsack weighing from twenty to e
twenty-five pounds. SO I thought I would It
lbstltute my pillow for the usual contents, n
nd went thus upon drill What was nv q
onsternation while drilling to hear the
'mmand, inspection knapsdcEs 1" There
as no help for it; the pillow was found,
ldI was corporal no longer"
he afterwards went on TO state Of his
lrlier army life, that, from exposure dur !.
3 lnclement weather, / was afflicted With = =
nh hnvVuo Il - |