Patrick Cleburne immigrated to the United States of America from Ireland approximately eleven years before the start of the War Between the States. He settled in Helena, Arkansas, on the Mississippi River to the South of Memphis, Tennessee. In Helena, he became an attorney, and was a highly respected citizen.

Cleburne had military training, having served in the British Army. At the start of the war, he helped raise an infantry regiment in Eastern Arkansas for the Confederate States of America. His "baptism of fire" during the war occurred at the Battle of Shiloh. His leadership qualities were quickly recognized by the Confederate States Army; and by 1864, he had risen to the rank of major general and was a divisional commander in the Army of Tennessee.

Patrick Cleburne was also known for his bravery. Confederate newspapers during the war called him the "Stonewall of the West". In the Confederate Army (both in the Eastern Theater and the Western Theater), his by-name was the "Ney of the Confederacy, the bravest of the brave". (This comparison to Marshal Ney of Napoleon’s Army was a high honor for the day and time. Marshal Ney was literally "worshipped" by the Confederate Military.)

At the Battle of Spring Hill on November 29, 1864, due to confusing orders by Confederate General John Bell Hood (and in one case, the absence of any order), a small Federal Army was allowed to escape. This small Federal Army consisted of two corps (under the command of Major General John M. Schofield). During the night of November 29^th and the morning of November 30^th, Schofield and his little army fell back to Franklin, Tennessee. During this small affair at Spring Hill, Cleburne’s favorite mount (a chestnut colored horse named "Red Pepper") was wounded, giving General Cleburne a bad fall.

Early the morning of the 30^th, when General Hood realized that Schofield had escaped, he severely reprimanded his corps commanders. This included Cleburne’s corps commander, Confederate General Benjamin Cheatham. Cleburne, and fellow divisional commander Major General John C. Brown, tried to defend General Cheatham with General Hood, but to no avail. General Hood was so mad (and probably not thinking correctly due to his liberal use of opium based painkillers) that he called both Cleburne and Brown a "pair of mincing toe-dancers". (In 2007 this would be the equivalent of calling a US Army Ranger a "limp-wristed p*ssy". In 1864, duels were fought for less.)

The affair almost went to pistols, as both Cleburne and Brown were both known for their courage. However, in the end both sides just let everything pass. General Hood moved on Franklin, and ordered a "Pickett’s Charge" type attack on the Federal Army. Again, one has to wonder if General Hood was thinking straight. Intelligence reports by no less than General Nathan Bedford Forrest showed that Schofield’s flank could be easily turned. A quick flanking movement by Hood and his army could capture or destroy the entire Federal army. For whatever reason, Hood decided on a massive frontal assault, with no artillery preparation against the Federal lines.

Cleburne went into the battle on a new horse; but he expressed anxiety about the attack orders with his staff. Almost to the Federal lines during the attack, Cleburne’s new horse was killed. He again received a nasty fall. A staff officer (Lt. James Brandon) dismounted and gave his horse to General Cleburne. As Cleburne tried to mount, this horse was also shot and killed. Cleburne was last seen on foot with his sword drawn and moving towards the Federal lines.

After the battle, General Patrick Cleburne’s body was found directly South of the Carter family’s cotton gin, about 50 yards East of the Columbia Pike. He had been shot once in the chest. The bodies of Confederate soldiers from his division surrounded his body.

His remains were first buried, after the Battle of Franklin, at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia, Tennessee. A short time later, his remains were moved to the cemetery at St. John’s Chapel in Ashwood, Tennessee. In 1870, they were finally moved to the Evergreen Cemetery in Helena, Arkansas. His loss was a severe blow to the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

On a personal note, in early November of 1989, a Pizza Hut and its parking lot were located in Franklin, Tennessee, on US Highway 31 (formerly the Columbia Pike). The site of this restaurant was the exact spot of General Cleburne’s death. The writer and his best friend had eaten supper in this restaurant. While the writer was paying the bill, my friend walked out to my automobile, parked in the parking lot. When I got outside, I saw that my friend was noticeably shaking. I asked the reason for this (the night was chilly but not cold). My friend said that he had seen a "misty figure" walking besides the parking lot. This apparition walked towards the North, and slowly vanished.

My friend later said that when this figure was very close to him (no more than ten feet), he felt a profound sadness and a feeling of deep impending doom. (Others, who have visited the Franklin Battlefield, have voiced similar stories.)

It should be noted that my friend’s entire knowledge of the War Between the States could be expressed in three words: The South Lost. He had never heard of General Patrick Cleburne, much less knew where he died. I do not believe that he made up this story that he told me almost twenty years ago.