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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Gen. Patrick Ronayne Cleburne. The career of this gentleman and his ability as a commander, which is so noted in the annals of Confederate history, has been justly admired by friend and foe, and although erroneous impressions regarding his early life have existed, the following sketch of his career is founded on fact. He was born in Ireland, ten miles west from the city of Cork, on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1828, and was a son of a popular and successful physician, who made a good living by his profession, but who spent his money too freely for the acquisition of wealth, in his favorite pursuit of amateur farming. He was married to Mary Anne Ronayne, and the subject of this sketch was named after her father, Patrick Ronayne, Esq., of Cork. Dr. Cleburne was descended from an old Tipperary family of English and Quaker stock, which settled in Ireland during Cromwell’s reign. He was finely educated and was a graduate of some of the best colleges of medicine and surgery. After the death of his wife, which occurred when Patrick was about a year old, he married a Miss Stuart, a daughter of a Scotch clergyman of that name, their union being a very happy one, and his children never lacked the kind ministrations and gentle love of a mother, Patrick being an especial favorite of hers, and she was always remembered by him with veneration. The Doctor’s first union resulted in the birth of three children, and the second in the birth of four. Of these, Joseph (the issue of the first marriage) died of yellow fever contracted on the west coast of Africa during a voyage, and Christopher (issue of the second marriage) was a gallant captain in the Second Kentucky Cavalry of Morgan’s command, and fell at the battle of Cloyd’s Farm, May 10, 1864, aged twenty-one years. The rest, with the exception of Patrick, still survive and live in this country. William, the oldest brother, is engineer of the Oregon Short Line at Omaha, Neb., and Anne is now Mrs. Sherlock, formerly of Cincinnati, Ohio. Patrick Cleburne received his early instructions from a private tutor, and at the age of twelve years was sent to a private school kept by a Rev. Mr. Spedden, but as he was a man of very harsh measures, Patrick’s efforts at acquiring a classical education were a failure. At the age of sixteen, his father died, and he then determined to turn his attention to pharmacy and apprenticed himself to a Mr. Justin, of Mallow, but upon his failure to pass the examination at Apothecary’s Hall, Trinity College, Dublin, after what he considered a thorough preparation, he was so disheartened and mortified that he enlisted in the Forty-first Regiment of Infantry, then stationed at Dublin, hoping that it would soon be ordered to foreign service. His anticipations were not realized, however, and owing to the monotony and dull routine of barrack life, he turned his thoughts to America, where adventurous and ambitious spirits could find a wider scope for their talents, and although his withdrawal was decidedly opposed by Capt. (afterward Gen.) Pratt, who distinguished himself in India and the Crimea, he was immovable and purchased his discharge through the intervention of his family. In company with his brothers William and Christopher, and his sister Anne, he embarked on the vessel Bridgetown, and on the following Christmas day entered the mouth of the Mississippi River. Leaving his friends in New Orleans, he went at once to Cincinnati and engaged in business on Broadway with a druggist named Salter, but soon after left this place and located in Helena, Ark., commencing his career here as a prescription clerk in the store of Grant & Nash, purchasing, two years afterward, Mr. Grant’s interest. During this time he devoted himself to the study of his profession, and also general literature, and being particularly fond of oratory became a conspicuous member of literary and debating societies. As orator of the day at a Masonic celebration, he achieved considerable local distinction, and upon the advice of friends, and also being personally inclined, he abandoned his old business and turned his attention to the study of law in the office of Hon. T. B. Hanley, and was soon after admitted to the bar, forming in 1856 a law partnership with Mark W. Alexander, the firm being known as Alexander & Cleburne. About this time, while the violent contest between the Democratic and Know-Nothing parties was in its full vigor, Mr. Cleburne accidentally witnessed a shooting affray between T. C. Hindman, a noted speaker and leader of the Democrats, and Dorsey Rice, a bitter partisan on the Know-Nothing side, and was shot by Jamison Rice, who supposed Mr. Cleburne was a participant in the struggle. The ball passed entirely through his body, but, although almost mortally wounded, he turned and seeing James Marriott standing with pistol in his hand and supposing him to be his assailant, he coolly raised his pistol and shot him dead. He then fell himself, and was carried by friends to his home, where he struggled between life and death for many days, but finally recovered. This affair was always a source of much regret and sorrow to Mr. Cleburne, but which he was powerless to avert. In 1859 he became associated in the practice of law with L. H. Mangum and Scaife, the firm being Cleburne, Scaife & Mangum, they constituting one of the best and strongest legal firms of the State. Mr. Cleburne was a very successful lawyer, and very popular with the masses, this being the natural result of his own deep sympathy with humanity, making every sufferer his brother. In 1855, when Helena was visited by that terrible scourge, yellow fever, Mr. Cleburne was one of the few to remain to nurse the sick, bury the dead and help the poor, this being only one instance of his remarkable nerve and courage. He knew not what fear was. Incapable of bravado he was grand in the energy of his anger when aroused, quick as lightning in execution, and indifferent to all consequences. Personally he was the soul of honor, but was proud and sensitive in disposition, and although at heart the friend of all the world, he had few intimate friends; among these may be mentioned his brigadier-generals, Polk, Lowrey, Govan, Granberry, Hardee and Cheatham, also Gen. John C. Brown. When the Civil War became imminent Mr. Cleburne at once stepped to the front, and he was chosen captain of the Yell Rifles, and was afterward made colonel of the First Arkansas Regiment of State troops. A record of his triumphs up to the battle of Franklin is well known to every reader of current history, and will not be given here. Suffice it to say, he never suffered defeat, but achieved splendid success. In more battles than one his figure stands out prominently as the hero of the day, and his distinction was won by universal acclamation. Although he was rigid in the enforcement of discipline, the soldiers whom he commanded loved him to a man, and trusted him implicity, and were ready to follow where he led, with alacrity and confidence. The morning of November 29, 1864, saw the armies of the Tennessee ready for battle. Schofield was at Columbia, and it was Hood’s purpose to outflank and out march him, so as to cut him off from Nashville and capture his army. With this object in view he crossed the Duck River three miles above Columbia and marched to Spring Hill, a small town on the Nashville pike midway between Columbia and Franklin. Cleburne’s division was leading, with Bate immediately following him, and Brown in the rear, the first-named division being composed of four brigades. Late in the afternoon Cleburne reached the vicinity of Spring Hill, near which was a Federal fortification. A mile from this fortification ran McCuthen’s Creek, and the road on which Cleburne was coming crossed this creek, and approached the turnpike at a right angle. Under the direction of Gen. Cheatham, the corps commander, and following the plan of Gen. Hood, Bate moved out to form on Cleburne’s left, and Brown’s brigade was moved to the right on the double quick, and made their formation. Gen. Hood then, in person, ordered Gen. Cleburne to form at the left of the road, in the cornfield at the foot of a hill, move forward and take the enemy’s works, adding that Brown had formed on his right and Bate was advancing to form on his left. This order was executed rapidly, and the enemy had only time to fire one volley before Granberry and Govan were at their works, and in less than fifteen minutes, with a loss of four killed and forty-five wounded, the earth works with some prisoners were taken. Cleburne’s command was now in full view of Spring Hill, and less than 300 yards from it. A Federal battery on the turnpike then commenced to shell the command, which had become somewhat scattered in pursuing the enemy, and Gen. Cleburne dispatched L. H. Mangum, the original writer of this sketch, to Granberry on the left, with directions to form his brigade so as to be prepared to move on the pike. As he gave the order he said, “I will see Govan.” At that moment a shell burst over his head and wounded his horse, causing the animal to rear furiously, and Mr. Mangum paused to make the inquiry, “Are you hurt, General?” but the answer fired at him was, “No, go on, Mangum, and tell Granberry what I told you, and we will take the pike.” Shortly after the brigades had formed and the battery had retreated. It was then discovered that Bate had not formed on the left, owing to the creek, through which Cleburne had waded, proving an obstruction, and as night was approaching, they were ordered to bivouac. During the night the Federal army passed along this very pike, within 200 yards of Cleburne’s command, and escaped to Franklin. In the morning Hood’s army began pursuing the enemy, and in the afternoon reached Winston’s Ridge, where they could get a good view of Schofield’s fortifications at Franklin, and their admirable nature caused Hood to look serious and consult with his officers what was best to be done. Some of his ablest generals opposed the attack, among whom was Gen. Cleburne, but, notwithstanding this, Hood ordered an immediate attack, and while on the eve of the onset, he addressed Cleburne thus: “General, I wish you to move on the enemy. Form your division on the right of the pike, with your left resting on the same. Gen. Brown will form on your left, with his right resting on the same. Give orders to your men not to fire a gun till you drive the Federal skirmishers from the first line of works in your front. Then press them and shoot them in the backs while running to the main line. Then charge the main works.” To which Cleburne answered with a smile, “General, I will take the works or fall in the attempt.” The first line of works was easily taken, and when his men made the final charge, Cleburne was at the front. A message had been sent from him to L. H. Mangum to join him at once, the latter having been sent to locate a battery, and upon his return the General said, “It is too late, go on with Granberry.” He then turned his horse and galloped up to Govan’s brigade, this being the last time Mr. Mangum ever saw the General alive. Shortly after Cleburne’s horse was shot from under him, and while in the act of mounting another which had been offered him, this, too, was shot and instantly killed. Cleburne then rushed forward on foot, and when within less than a hundred yards from the works, he fell, pierced by a minie-ball, which passed through his body and probably caused instant death. Hidden by smoke and enveloped by thunders, he sank on the couch of his glory, unattended and alone. As soon as his absence became known, the deepest anxiety was shown, and it was at first reported that he was captured, but these hopes were dissipated by the finding of Cleburne’s body by a correspondent of the press, and he was taken to the home of Mr. McGavock, nearby, and shortly afterward to Columbia for interment, the funeral rites being performed by Rt. Rev. Bishop Quintard. Later his body was removed to the family burying ground of the Polk family, at Ashwood, six miles from Columbia. Here, shadowed by the solemn forest trees, and near the river, on whose placid bosom he loved to row, he sleeps the sleep of a hero, and on the simple slab above his grave is the following inscription:
Maj.-Gen. P. R. CLEBURNE,
Of the Confederate Army, born in County Cork, Ireland.
Killed at the battle of Franklin,
November 30, 1864.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Phillips County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Phillips County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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