Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-09
LIEUT.. GEN. P. r. CLEBURNE.
From the Western celt.l

There IS not chapter IN the history OF
the late States Rights War;" that does
not afford a thinking Irishman ample
food for grave reflection. The best of
our race have fallen in the battles of
other countries; not a nation almost on
the face of the earth, that an Irish man
has not fought and bled for. Where er
we turn, whether on the banks Of the
Mississippi, or the fairy-like slopes of
the Ganges, when on the heights of In
herman or Fredericksburg, the bones of
Irishmen are bleaching as monuments
indelible to meet but passing remark
from the historian.
The name of Ireland should be re-
spected. nay, held sacred; the ashes of
Irishmen have made sacred the soil of
almost all the nations of the world; it
matters not where their services were
needed, whether in the field or the SEN
ate, their devotion to their adopted
country, entities them to the honorable
position of first citizen Of the world.
Well may America be proud and thank
full for the noble part the Irish exiles
have played in delivering this country
from the usurpation of the scarlet tyrant
of the old world. Well may she trace
on the brightest pages of her history,
the names of Irishmen who have done
such valorous deeds in driving
from their adopted country an old and
bitter enemy. Even in our own time, in
that fearful struggle of brother against
brother, we may regret the countless
thousands that have persisted in defend
ing the rights of their respective States.
Ahl we'll we remember some of those
splendid Irish regiments, numbering
thousand and pwards-after the battle
was fought and won, could not muster
enough to form captains company.
Among those who fell there is none we
more earnestly regret than General Pat
rick Ronayne Cleburne. Ireland re
members him, one of her noblest sons,
a gentleman of the truest type, chival.
rous spirit, whose prayer during life was
to die in the cause of his native country.
he was born in Coye, county of Cork.
He was induced to make America his
home, and happened to be resident of
Helena, Arkansas, at the commence
ment of that disastrous civil strife. He
naturally cast his fortunes with those of
his State, and became one of the most
successful organizers of the Southern
armies. He quickly rose to an impor-
tant command, and won the most COM
plete victory of the war at Richmond,
Kentucky, for which he received the
thanks of the Confederate Congress. IN
December, 1862, he was promoted to the
rank of Major General, and fought at
Murfreesboro'. He defeated RosencraHs
at Chiekamauga, and again received the
thanks Of Congress; he continued to do
service for the cause he espoused; his
name became terror to those who imme-
diately opposed him. In the winter of
1864 he assumed the command of the
forces of Generals Hood and Hardec,
with the rank of Lieutenant General.
During Cleburnes operations in Ten
nessee, aud almost in view of Franklin
Hill, he happened to pass through a lit
tie graveyard, followed by his staff; on
coming to q green little knoll in this vii
lage of the dead be paused; the members
of his staff Immediately formed around
him. Believing some new movement
we're to be executed, or important dis
patches TO be sent, they continued to
watch with breathless anxiety the giant.
like figure Of their chief; after painful
silence, the General, whose countenance
wore a sad smile, slowly raised his eyes
and turning to his faithful subalterns
said; "Ahl gentlemen, it is well worth
dying for, if man could be buried in
such a lovely spot as that" Shortly
after. Cleburne gave battle TO the North
ern troops at Franklin Hill, where he
fell at the head of his brave soldiers.
fighting his last fight for the dying Con
(ederacy, on the Both of November,
1854 A few members of his staff, who
eseaped the carnage of that fatal day,
remembered the touching episode Of the
graveyard. ANA rstprned with the re-
mains of their noble leGder, and tenn
norarilv but affectionately. lasd him to
rest in that green little knoll, which he
rstlo T. MoLoNY.
St. Leuis. EoyembersO. 1874.
In addition to the shove interesting
reminiscenoe it might be added thai iust
before that fatal charge on the breast
works at Franklin General Cleburns de-
Iivered short, incisive speech to -: s.s
division, in which he used the words;
81 am not now Sighting for liberty. but
for vengeance" He said that the
cause was lost, and be, like knight
of old, expected to be killed, and wished
to die rather thea survive the ultimate
result. Some years after the death Of
General CIeburns his remains we're eon-