"Well, Govan, if we must die, let us die like men."
Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne
At Franklin, he had two horses shot from beneath him. According to an eyewitness,Cleburne "moved forward on foot waving his cap and was lost sight of in the smoke and din of battle. " Cleburne fell between the cotton gin and the Columbia Pike within sight of the Carter House, a single bullet piercing his heart.
The loss of general officers in this battle was staggering to the morale of the Confederate army. General's Adams, Carter, Gist, Granbury, Cleburne and Strahl were killed, and Cockerell, Quarles, Manigault, and Scott were wounded. General Gordon was dragged over the Union breastworks by his hair and captured. Confederate President Jefferson F. Davis would remember Cleburne as being equal to Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee in "ability and leadership." Cleburne's sword belt, sash and buckle were sent to his fiancé Sue Tarleton, of Mobile, Alabama after the battle.
“There were eyes afar that watched your star/As it rose with the Southern Cross/There were hearts that bled when its course was shed/And old Ireland felt your loss.”
Hadn't realized he was aptly named by being born on St. Patrick's day. Requiescat in pace, General.
ReplyDeleteYes, Sir, one of my heroes and my favorite quote bar none.
Delete"Well, Govan, if we must die, let us die like men."