The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-05-04

stock drink, and, Of course, the writer
went t" sleep. was awakened by a
detenlns clap Of thunder. called
and shouted for my companion, bnt
he was gone, and | saw him no more
for several days. 1t matters not
about my own further adventures that
night. C|cburne told me afterwards
that he awoke and found me missing,
and shouted Justify tor me, and then
rode on and brought up finally at a
farm house. The roads fo,kcd beyond
the creek, and we took different
routes.
This experience was the heginlng
OF a warm intimacy that never knew
change or had a shade. And npon
one occasion Gen. Cleburue expressed
the wish unsolicited to add his in.
dorsement in recommending the
writer's promotion.
CLEBURNE AS A MAJOR GENERAL
CIeburne went into Kentucky with
Bragg and achieved a rising fame for
brilliant usefulness in every place
where soldier could show merit. lie
showed growing capacity for com-
mand. lie was wounded and won
his baton of Major General. He lead
his division in the Middle Tennessee
campaign of 1862 when R"secrans
pushed Bragg back to Chattanooga
and clutched the beautiful and smil-
ing country lying between Nashville
and Chattanooga to Federal rule.
A PLEASANT DAY WITH CLEBURNE.
In the spring of 1862, before this
important campaign, when the writer
had risen to the command of fine
regiment of horsemen, ! met Cleburne
at War Trace, Tennessee. Our cav.
airy of Martins Division had been or
dered from the right, near McMinn-
vile to the left before Sheloyville.
CIeburne had his headquarters at
War Trace, and made NE spend the
day with him. lie had donned better
toggery than he used to wear, aud
thought that 10 his laced bravery he
looked actually handsome. The gray
with its Hungarian tracery of braid on
the arm Lecame him well. Smoothly
shaved, with his 1.-the and rather slen
der form, his blue eye, sweet and soft
in his mild moments, but flashing in
battle with luried fire, and the mouth,
so rigid amid the fight, wreathed in
friendly smiles, he was an attractive
warrior. After dinner, while chatting
in his office, | noticed small book
in blue and gold on tho mantle-piece
that contrasted strangely with the
accoutrements of battle lying around.
| took it up aud found it to be a vol.
ume of poetry, and jocular1y inquired
what love.sick youngster he had on
his staff, who mingled the muses. witt,
Mo|oh, and thought Of rhyme while
he drilled grim batallions. To my
supreme establishment he replied that
the book was his own and that he
loved good poetry as we'll as anybody.
And thought more Of him. 1t re-
vealed a tender side of bis stern ma
ture uf which had not dreamed.
The South had no more practical,
sturdy, iron lied soldier than Pat
Cleburne, unsparing in duty, sleep.
less in vigilance, wearing himself and
Others out in marching and fighting,
harsh to wrong doors, attending little
to carpet knight graces, blunt aud out
spoken, springing from rough origin
and not altogether without the traces
of its rudeness. Yet, this bold brus-
one warrior had a deep tinge of ro-
nance and gentle side of his nature,
and could spout you with patlos a
touching sentiment Of rhyme, aud
smile as wiosomely as a woman, thus
exemp\ifying that o'eI true couplet of
Bayard Taylor:
"The bravest are the tendrrest,
The loving are the daring"
This unexpected revealing of pocsy
gave the rough soldier a charm to me
that he never had before.
ON THE RETREAT.
When | met him again Bragg was
falling back from Middle Tennessee.
With my own regiment and ono of
Wharton's Texas regiments, had
covered the rear aud crossed Duck
River. The enemy were pushing
vigorously. The horses were in the
rear, and our dismounted horscman
were fighting infantry fashion, when
m order was received to fall back,
mount and 50 to the flank.
Drawing back under hot fire, We
slowly and snllen]y refrigerated
the infantry skimishers, with
in person, commanding. A
qoick grasp of the hand, a hasty bnt
cordial sa\utation, a hurried inquiry
as to the troops in front, and swift.
ly spoken goodbye, and We parted,
the gallant lrishman pushing his de.
p|oyed line rapidly to the front amid
the whizzing bullets and occasional
shell.
But I cannot dwell upon these re
MY entire relation With
HIM were warmly friendly and my re-
collections Of him are pleasant and
touching.
HIS MILITARY GENIUS.
He prose to be a military authority in
our army. He knew the very rudi.
ments Of fighting, aud had genius to
use his knowledge. Always ready,
always watc|tfu|, never depressed,
beloved by his good mon, feared
by his bad ones, trusted aud res
pected by all, jn,lomitablo iD courage,
skillfully hcad-long in attack, co"I(y
in retreat, thorough master
of detail, yet with broad generalship,
obedIent to the letter, capable III any
responsibility, modest as a woman, a
resolute disciplinarian and dauntIess
fighter, personally as brave as a lion,