Cleburne, Patrick Ronayne

Cleburne, Patrick Ronayne klēˈbərn [key], 1828–64, Confederate general, b. Co. Cork, Ireland. He emigrated to America in 1849 and was practicing law in Helena, Ark., when the Civil War broke out. Cleburne, who had served in the British army, was made a brigadier general in Mar., 1862. He commanded a brigade at Shiloh (April), and a division at Richmond (Aug.) and Perryville, Ky. (Oct.). Promoted to major general (Dec.), he distinguished himself at Murfreesboro and in the campaigns around Chattanooga and Atlanta. Cleburne persistently advocated that slaves be freed and used as soldiers. His last service was in the Tennessee campaign of 1864; he was killed at the battle of Franklin (Nov.).

See E. Lonn, Foreigners in the Confederacy (1940, repr. 1965).

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