The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-01-23
IRISH OFFICERS IN THE LATE VAR.


Memoirs Of the Irish Race Abroad" by j.
Edward Kelly. We have not yet seen the
work but we should judge it to be a very
interesting book.
Speaking of Pat Cleburne, the gallant
Confederate General the IrishmGn says:
During the late American war there was
one dashipg soldier amongst the Southern
generals who was not very long in the field
when he took command of the respect and
admiration of his brother officers and all
the fighting rank and file of the army. He
had a courage and daring which attracted
the attention of the Federal troops, and
his skill in handling large bodies was not
more conspicuous than his strategic genius.
The Irish in the Northern army were AS
proud of him as were the Southern people,
by whom he was universally loved. Pat
rick Ronayne Cleburne, or according to the
familiar pet name by which he was best
known. Pat Cleburne, was an 1rishman,
1t was known that he longed to display his
vafor on other than American battiefeids,
and while he wished for the end of" that
cruel war he also fondiy cherished the
hope that his good fortune would require
his service under flag which he saw often
anfurled and carried in triumph through
many q bloody fray. "General Pat" was
born in Cork, and has still relatives in that
city bearing both his fathers and his
mothers name. At eighteen he entered
the British army, but only remained three
years in that service. His next move was
towards the United States, where he stnd-
led law, and settled down in Helena, Ar I
kansas When the war broke out he Joined
the Southern army, and rose rapidly from
the ranks step by step till he beanie a gem
eral. He fought his way mp to this dis
tingushed position, and maintained it with
honor to himself and credit to his country.
The following excerpt from Mr.. kelly's
=, !,
g. In September, 1862 lat Richmond, Ken
tucky}, Cieburne, in conjunction with Kirby
Smith, particularly sigua.ized himself
against the Northern forces, and was
mainly instrumental in winning a victory
which, in the number of prisoners and
amount of stores captured, aud in the utter
dispersion and destruction of the opposing
force, was one of the most complete of the
war. While galfantiy aiding his men, a
bullet passed through his mouth aud out
through his cheek. but did not long inca
pacitate him from duty. A vote of thanks
was accorded him by the Confederate Con-
gress 'for HE gallant and meritorious con
Perryville, on the 9th of October he was
wounded while charging at the head OF his
brigade.
s:At the battle of Murfreesboro (on the
last day of the year 1862, Cleburne (hav-
ing been promoted to the rank of Major
lines of battle which Rosecrans (the North
ern general) sent to sustain his right wing.
The battle however resulted in favor of
the Northerners.
"Till September, 1868, Major General
Clehurne was engaged only in desultory
warfare but, on the 18th and Goth of that
mouth, ut the Chickamauga, he greatly
to the defeat of Rosecrans.
General Grant (having superseded
Rosecrans in command of the Northern
forces), in conjunction with General Sher-
man, attacked the Confederates at Mis-
sionary Ridge, and carried their position
at Lookout Mountain on the left. General
commanded the Southern right,
and repeatedly repulsed the assaults of Cen
eral Sherman in that quarter, capturing
a large number of prisoners and colors,
and, when the tide of battle turned against
the Southerners, was the last to withdraw,
gallantly protecting the rear of the re-
treating army. On the following day, Gen
eral Hooker came up with Cieburne at
Riggold Gap, but got such warm recep-
tion that he abandoned further pursuit
Once again the Confederate Congress voted
Cieburne it's thanks for his services.
Under General j. E. Johnston, Gle
burne took active part in opposing the in
vasion of Georgia by General Sherman, in
tanned by the Southerners, though op-
posed to forces superior in numbers and
resolute in their attacks. On the 2ist of
July, the Federals made an attempt to
turn the Confederate right and penetraSe
to Atlanta, then encircled on the north side
by the Southern army under General Hood,
who had succeeded General Johnston.
Ordered to oppose the Federal design, Gle
burne, though obliged to contend against
large odds, and subjected to IRE in front
and flank, repulsed the attack of the Fed
erals. This action was described by Gle
burne as the bitterest fight of his life. On
the 22d, General Hardee's corps, consisting
of Cleburne's division and three others,
carried the Federal ntrenchments on the
left. AS many as twenty seven out ofthirty
field officers in Cleburne's division were
placed hors de combat in this attack.
"On the Goth of August Sherman began
to turn the position of the Confederates.
To dslodge a Federal force which had
taken a position twenty-five miles south
Of Atlanta, General Hood despatched GEN
erals Lee and Hardee. The attempt was
q failure; but Clebarne-who achieved the
only success-csrred a portion of the
Northern works, aud captured some guns.
General Sherman assumed the offensive,
kIa