Month: May 2025

Major-General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne (/ˈkleɪbɜːrn/ KLAY-burn; March 16, 1828 – November 30, 1864)^[1] was a senior officer in the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.^[2]

Born in Ireland,^[1] Cleburne served in the 41st Regiment of Foot of the British Army after failing to gain entrance into Trinity College of Medicine, Dublin in 1846.

He served at Fort Westmorland on Spike Island and was present on the island in 1849 when Queen Victoria visited Cork Harbour. Three years after joining the Army, he immigrated to the United States. At the beginning of the American Civil War, Cleburne sided with the Confederate States.

He progressed from being a private soldier in the local militia to a division commander. He participated in many unsuccessful military campaigns, especially the Battle of Stones River, the Battle of Missionary Ridge and the Battle of Ringgold Gap.

He was also present at the Battle of Shiloh. Known as the “Stonewall of the West”, Cleburne was killed leading his men at the Battle of Franklin.