The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-05-04
PATRICK CLEBURNE.
The St0neWall Jackson Of the West,
The Irish Hero of the Confederate Army
BY COL. I. W. AVERY, OF GEORGIA.
TOctroit Free Press.

Detroit Free Press.
The alchemy of battle brought into
shining lustre many a character that
would otherwise have staid in the Oh
scurest Metliocrity. Characters in the
quiet of civil life, ordinary, unambi'
tious, and unnoticed, IN the turbu-
lence of war aspiring, valiant, COM
mandiug. They seem to need the
fiery crucible Of revolution to burn
their genius out of their shell. That
grim
IRISH CONFEDERATE SOLDIER,
Patrick Cleburne, vas one of these
characters. A person observabiy un-
prominent in peace, lie was a marked
influence in war, distinguished for
merit in every rank he held, and RI
sing rapidly until a brilliant death at
once closed and capped a career of
rare glory.
CLEBCRNE BEFORE THE WAR.
Gen. Cleburne was boru in Ireland.
He enlisted as private in the En-
g|ish army, serving several years and
rising to the rank Of corporal. TWAS
in the severe discipline of the English
service that Cleburne received that
training in the PRACTICAL details of
soldering that maze him 50 valuable
in high command in the Confederate
army. He knew from this invaluable
experience every minnti2 of army
management, aud it was one of the
habitnal characteristics of this superb
or officer that he constantly gave his
personal attention to these essential
details of the service. lie was a
thorough soldier, and the writer has
often heard Lieut-GeD. Hardee, under
whom he 40 long served and who was
himself a superb officer, say that Cle-
burne was the best major general in
the Southern army.
Cleburne emigrated from England
to this country, settled in Helena, Ar
kansas, and lentered upon the prac-
tice of law. At the beginning of the
war he raised a company of infantry,
was Immediately elected colonel Of
his regiment, and by the display of
his striking efficiency won bis briga-
dier's commission with swift rapidity.
cLEBURNE IN CAMP.
When the writer's company of horse
was ut CoIinth before the memorable
field of Shiloh, we had camp:some
four miles from the place, and morn
ing and afternoon as l rode back aud
forth, a certain brigade of infantry
regularly and industriously drilled
The leader was a plain looking officer
dressed in faded gray, topped with a
weather-beaten slouched hat, riding
an ungaiuly gray steed. strong and
fast, but with that peculiarly ragged
figure Of low neck, high shoulders.
reaching back and ugly sloping haun-
ches typical Of a certain sort Of rapid
pacers-a style of horse homely but
useful and of exhaustleSs bOttOm.-
The rider and steed were siugularly
matched, and gave an impression of
rugged strength.
That uncouth aud indefatigable
driller was Pat Clebu:ne.
CLEBURNE AT SHILOH.
On the Friday afternoon, before tho
battle of Shiloh, my company arrived
near the field. Gen. johnson expect
ed to have opened the battle Saturday
morning, but his troops did not all
arrive on the ground. I shall not
soon forget that Friday night. It. was
wild and black with shivering accom-
paniment of rain and Lightning
About nine o'clock when the troopers
we're huddling around the feeble camp
flies, an order from Gen. Hiudman to
whom was temporarily reporting, to
70 out half a mile beyond tho outer
ticket line and establish a new chain
of pickets. The order Informed me
that Capt. PHILIPPE, Of Geo. Cleburne's