Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-19
GEN. CLEBURNE.
some Interesting Facts about the
Gallant SsRebeI.|

- Prom the Memphis Ledger
When Gen. Cleburne was killed at
| F.anlIlin, Tennessee, in 1864, he was in
his thirty-tfth year. BY education he
was druggist, and m early life was as
thoroughly accomplished as one could be
at his age in that profession. When
about twenty-One years of age, he aban-
doned the monotony of bottles and labels
and the filing of prescriptions, and
| joined the British army as private.
| The extent and character of his services
| have not been able TO ascertain, but
it is not probable that he remained in
the army many months. This much is
known: He landed at New York poor
and friendless, and some years before the
war, was found at Cincinnati by gentle
man of Helena, Arkansas, who induced
him to go to that place and accept under
him situation 10 his drugstore. The
young Irishman soon made friends who
recognized his merits and talents, and per-
suaded him to study law. He was soon
admitted to the bar and became the part
ner of Col. Mangum, an eminent lawyer
of Arkansas, who was afterward one of
Cleburne's staff officers, and who is still
practicing law at Helena. When the war
broke out, Cleburne went out from Phil
lips county as Captain of company. His
subsequent career is part of the known
history of the war, and his fame belongs
alike to the South and to his native Ire
land. Strange and unnatural as it msy
seem, he had brother in the Federal
army. OF this fact he never spoke even
to his most intimate friends, and few of
them even ventured to breach the sub
ject.
Passing over this circumstance, which
has many painful para lels, we come to
the saddest romance of his great life,
which involves another, who was as
gentle and pure, and patriotic in her
sphere, as he was brave and knightly and
fierce in war. She, too, has gone to the
spirit land, and we violate no sacred con-
fdences now in writing thus briefly a
tender episode in the warriors life. 1t
will be remembered by hundreds and
thousands of the surviving members of
the grand old Army of Tennessee that
while the army was in winter quarters at
Dalton, Gen. Cleburne had leave of alb
sence and went to Mobile, as 1t was i'm
possible for him to get through the lines
to his home When he returned to the
army it was observed by all who knew
Gen. Cleburne that he was dressed
I'D as he never before had
been. He wore new uniform, with the
buff trimmings and insignia of Confed-
crate Major General; also new felt hat,
adorned with sweeping black plume.
The soldiers grew facetious over the
Charge in sold Pats" appearance, for
previously he had generally worn the garb
of a common soldier, and they explained
the transformation in many witty re-
marks. 1t subsequently transpired that
during the Generals absence he had adj
dressed an accomplished and lovely young
lady of Mobile, was accepted, and they
became formally bethrothed. A timewas
appointed for the celebration of their
nuptials, but fate decreed that they should
never meet again on earth.
Gen. Cleburne carried with him into
Tennessee his wedding suit, and expected
at the first opportunity to return to Mobile
10 be married. The rest is quickly told.
lie fell at Franklin, and was buried in his
bridal suit, as one of his staff who inferred
him but recently informed me. The
young lady, some time after the war, was
married, but last year, she, too, passed
away from earth, and the betrothed spir-
its have doubtless met before the great
white Throne in Heaven, where all be-
levers in Divine revelation must admit
'fhere IS no marriage or giving in mar
rage.
Gen. ClebUne joined the Episcopal
Church before the war, and was buried at
Franklin with the full rites of that church,
which were performed on the occasion by
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