Major-General Patrick Cleburne became the highest ranking Irishman to serve in the American Civil War. Starting the conflict as Captain of the Yell Rifles in Helena, Arkansas, he rose to become one of the most famous divisional generals in the Confederate forces. His fighting abilities earned him the nickname ‘Stonewall of the West’, and the distinctive blue flags of his division struck fear into all who faced them. He seemed destined for higher command, but his courageous proposal to arm slaves in return for their freedom ended hopes of further advancement. He fell at the head of his division in the brutal carnage that was the Battle of  Franklin, Tennessee on 30th November, 1864. To learn more about Cleburne read his commanding officer’s sketch here.

Bride Park Cottage, Killumney, Co. Cork where Patrick Cleburne was born and lived until aged eight

It was in this upper left room that Patrick Cleburne, 'The Stonewall of the West' was born on 16th March 1828

Memorial Plaque to Patrick Cleburne at Bride Park Cottage

St. Mary's Church of Ireland Church, where Patrick Cleburne was baptised

Grange House, where the Cleburne family moved in 1836; the house was considerably larger in the nineteenth century

The grave of Dr. Joseph Cleburne, Patrick's father, in St. Mary's Church of Ireland graveyard

The inscription on the grave reads: 'The Burial Place of Joseph Cleburne Esq. M.D. who died Nov. 24th 1843 Aged 51 years'. Patrick was only 15 when he died. It set in train the events that would lead to the family's emigration to the United States in 1849

*Special thanks are due to Mary Ronayne, Phil Murphy and D.J. Murphy, without whom these pictures could not have been presented.

Further Reading

For a comprehensive listing of the biographies on Major-General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne please see the books page of the site