Chapter Three
A Wide and Deep Respect
Although just across the river from Arkansas,
Mississippi
in the 1850s “was crowded with well-educated, ambitious young men, who might
and would win, but who would have to wait a very long time for their laurels”.
Such was the situation for Thomas Carmichael Hindman Jr. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee,
he was the fifth child and second son of Thomas and Sallie Hindman. (1)
According to legend, Thomas Sr.
had been the first white male born in Knoxville
in 1793. If this is true, it correlates well with his later work as sub-agent
to the Cherokee Nation, effected by President James Monroe. Because of his
honest dealings as a merchant, Hindman earned the confidence of the Indians. He
was away from his family quite frequently on trips to Washington
D.C. and when the Cherokees were forced west
of the Mississippi
on the infamous Trail of Tears.
A successful businessman, Thomas
Sr. was able to provide much more for his family than was considered necessary
at that time; The youngest child, Mildred recalled that “everything Mother and
the family wanted, we got”. Thomas Jr., along with his cousins John and Robert
Ross, were sent to the Lawrenceville Classical Institute in New Jersey. (2)
Founded in 1808, the institute was the third oldest in the country and
held a renown for preparing boys for collage in the classics. Like Patrick’s
school in Ireland, the students held strictly regimented lives; the students
were taught to learn by heart not only classical languages like Latin and
Greek, but also mathematical formulas and English grammar. After rising at six
o’clock in the summertime or seven o’clock in the winter, the students, “neat,
clean, and somber-suited” attended chapel where they recited scripture and then
closed with a Hymn. (3)
As a renown school of the classics, a great emphasis was placed on
oratory and debate. The debates between students of opposing sides often became
rather animated. Current issues were argued; topics concerning the
abolitionists’ radical crusades were discussed and “fearful fights” sometimes
ensued between “hot headed southern boys” and their New
England counterparts. In 1843, Hindman graduated from the school,
as class salutatorian. Noted for his almost mesmerizing oratory skills, he
delivered a speech entitled “The Ruins of Time” at the graduation ceremony. (4)
When he arrived back home in Mississippi
after a brief stay with relatives in New
York, Hindman began to study law under local
attorney, Orlando Davis. Not long after this, the Mexican War broke out. Mississippi’s call to arms requested for one regiment of
infantry or rifleman; this quota was quickly filled and these were sent to Vicksburg and then on to Mexico. Led by future governor John
Quitman, the First Mississippi Rifles gained fame during the Battle of Monterey
and the attack on Mexico City, where they
stormed the Belen gate and planted the first United States flag in the
capital.
As for Hindman and hundreds of other disappointed men, their units
were left behind at the first call to arms. Governor Brown, expecting President
Polk to request for at least two infantry regiments, perhaps a cavalry regiment
as well, called for such. But such was not the case. When Brown learned that Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and Rhode Island had failed to reach their quota of men, on the
objection that a successful campaign in Mexico would result in the furtherance
of the ‘slave states’, he wrote to the secretary of war, offering to fill the
deficit with ready and willing men from his state. In a response to this and
the need for additional troops, President Polk issued a second call to arms in
November of 1846.
Hindman, along with others who had been turned down the first time,
eagerly enlisted. Unfortunately for the Second Mississippi Rifles the fame,
which other men from their state had obtained in the war, seemed to elude them.
At Camp McClung,
three miles north of Vicksburg,
the Second drilled and organized in unseasonably warm weather. At night, though,
high winds and hail destroyed their tents and rain fell in torrents, muddying
the camp and freezing the men. By the time they left Camp McClung,
many of the men had colds, flu, and pneumonia.
After a brief stay on the old
battleground in New Orleans,
in which eighty men went home due to poor health, the Second Mississippi Rifles
began their voyage to war. On this long and tedious trip, twenty-eight men
never reached Mexico
and died in the cramped damp quarters of the ship. After arriving at Monterey, following a three day march with little water
from the mouth of the Rio Grande
at Matamoras, the regiment was again plagued by poor health. Although not a
shot had been fired, its ranks were thinned, its men discouraged, and illness
abounded. Thomas Hindman was fortunate enough to escape the ladder, his brother
Robert’s bout with small pox resulted in a medical discharge of duty on April
23, 1847.
Although Hindman partook in
pursuing occasional “guerillosos”, his main occupation was assigned to him on
March 25, 1848 as acting adjutant to a detachment at Mazafil. His fine
penmanship earned him promotion to post adjutant the following month and
terminated at the close of the war in May. Upon returning home, the Second was
regarded as heroes was were given a barbecue in their honor at Fort Adams.
As for Thomas, he resumed his study of law under Orlando Davis and was admitted
to the bar in 1851.
From here, Hindman became
involved in politics and became a member of the Mississippi’s
State Legislature in 1853, representing Tippah County.
An ardent supporter of state’s rights, Hindman was among the aspiring
politicians who Jefferson Davis enlisted to establish leaders of the State
Rights Democrat party. Hindman also supported Davis in an 1851 bid for governorship.
Although Davis lost to Henry Foote, a Union
Democrat, by less than one thousand votes, Hindman’s canvassing in northern Mississippi in favor of Davis made him known to the people and helped
him win the previously-referred to seat
in the House of Representatives.
Still, with the long list of big
names in Mississippi
politics, Hindman appeared to be but a mere footnote. Therefore, when the
legislature adjourned in March 1854, Hindman said good-by and crossed the river
into Helena, Arkansas, hoping to make his mark in the
world. If quick recognition is what he had in mind, Hindman would not have to
wait long.
Helena, Arkansas, was the
sight for a large Independence Day celebration in 1854. Hundreds gathered just
outside of town for patriotic speeches from local politicians, the breaking of
ground ceremony for the new Midland Railroad, and plenty of barbecue. Following
a passionate speech by Senator Sebastian about the Fourth of July, Jason Alcorn
mounted the podium. Alcorn, a member of the Whig party, was considered to be the
leading politician in Mississippi
at that time. In his speech, he mentioned his party, complementing them much to
the democrat’s chagrin. A friend of Dr. Nash’s, Mr. Hewson, leaned over to him
after Alcorn’s speech and told him about hearing Thomas C. Hindman in Mississippi once.
Knowing that Hindman was present at the celebration, Hewson suggested that Nash
and other democrats call for him to speak. At this, a coordinated call for
“Hindman! Hindman!” arose from the crowd, to which Hindman arose, bowed, and
took the stand. In what developed into a two hour speech, Hindman delivered so
many thrusting remarks that the Whigs
present began to show some restlessness. He would have stopped sooner, but
whenever it appeared he was about to do so, the democrats in the crowd cried
for him to continue. At last, Alcorn interrupted and offered that they adjourn
and meet later in the courthouse for a formal debate. Hindman consented to his
proposal, adding that he would meet Alcorn “anywhere and debate you from Monday
morning until Saturday night”. (5)
The
following evening, several men gathered outside of Fadley’s Hotel to discuss
the previous night’s debate. About this time Hindman, who was staying at Fadley’s,
came out of the hotel and towards the group. A young lawyer David Badham,
noticing Hindman’s presence, began to vocally compliment Alcorn’s performance
at the debate. Hindman replied to Badham’s comment in an excited manner, to
which he jumped towards Hindman with an insult. Hindman grabbed Badham, but the
potential altercation was stopped by a bystander. Badham unwrinkled his clothes
and gladly left the group. He knew he was no match for Hindman in a fist fight,
therefore, thinking of dueling pistols, he sent Hindman a challenge through his
friend, Mark Alexander. If Badham had hoped that a formal duel of ten paces
would settle the dispute civilly, he was shocked when Alexander returned with
Hindman’s reply. He had accepted the challenge and had chosen the place as Tunica
county, Mississippi,
the time 12 midnight, and the weapon as bowie knives. Hindman further specified
that each “was to hold in his right hand a knife, and the left was to be tied
close to the body”. (6)
Cleburne first heard of
the dispute through Badham’s friend Mark Alexander, of Hanly & Alexander.
During his studies, Cleburne
had withdrawn much from his social activities to devote his time to law. This
is perhaps why he had not heard of the fight until now. From Alexander’s
description, Cleburne
remarked that it sounded brutal and unfair for Badham.
Cleburne, like his law associate, considered himself a Whig; notwithstanding
the paradox that an ‘Irish Whig’ presented. But then again, he was not an
‘Irish Catholic” either. It is said that during his brief stay in Cincinnati, Cleburne’s brother William had become acquainted
with some local Whigs. From their talks concerning politics, William had become
convinced that “the whig party was made up of intelligent, wealthy gentlemen,
and that the democratic party was composed of the lower and ignorant people”,
much like it was in Ireland.
Patrick, always somewhat apathetic towards politics, did not question these
views when he moved down South., but merely accepted them. (7)
However, Cleburne had a few democratic law associates
also. One was James Crary of Tennessee.
In his lengthy law studies, Cleburne
would often inquired of Crary if a problem arose. About this time, Crary had
gotten into a duel with Hoggett Clopton, the son of a rich and respected
planter, over a small disagreement. In the subsequent duel or rather ambush,
Crary was shot in the arm after the fifth discharge from Clopton’s pistol. For
awhile, it appeared that Crary would loose the arm, but Dr. Nash managed to
save it. A short time following the fight, Crary and Clopton became good
friends. This incidence is perhaps another reason why Cleburne objected so loudly to a duel between
Hindman and Badham. In a letter to his mother, Cleburne wrote that:
In this part of the world, local or individual attachments hang on a
very slender thread and in breaking give but a momentary jar. Death, even in
its more revolting forms, is an every day common place occurrence on this great
highway, the Mississippi River. It is looked
lightly on by this busy people, who regard it as by no means the greatest evil.
(8)
Hoping to
avoid bloodshed between either party, Cleburne
visited an influential acquaintance of his, Gideon Pillow. Pillow, a wealthy
Whig, owned a large plantation not far from Helena. He had considered going to see
Hindman, whom he had previously met, and if possible, talk him out of the
fight. In the end, Cleburne
and Pillow were able to resolve the issue, without the loss of honor from
either party. Nash never heard the specifics of how this was accomplished, but
stated that in “this incidence Hindman met his full match in bravery” from Cleburne. (9)
Nash wrote,
concerning Cleburne
and Hindman, that there “was never two men more dissimilar”. Cleburne was about six feet tall and, in his
own words, never weighed over 148 lbs, and had grey eyes and dark brown hair.
Hindman was barely five feet tall, always well dressed, had blue-gray eyes and
kept his hair greased back. As for personalities, “Hindman was an ambitious politician, rather overbearing in expression,
and self-sufficient and self-controlling, uncompromising in every thing, while
Cleburne was docile, had no ambition to become a leader in any calling, never
became a candidate for any office, was always conservative in his views and fair
and honorable in his debates; his social qualities were of the highest order,
and his big heart took in sympathy enough to divide with the weak and
distressed”. The only apparent similarity was their participation in the Sons
of Temperance. In December 1853, Cleburne
delivered an address during the first anniversary of the Helena Division of
that organization. In response, a few months later, Philips County voters
petitioned the passage of a special act, “prohibiting the sale of vinous and
spirituous liquors in less quantity that one quart” to the state legislators.
In Mississippi,
Hindman had helped to organize the society’s 1852 Christmas celebration at a
local Presbyterian church, in which he delivered a speech and the choir sang a
song which he had composed for that occasion:
They who fill the mad’ning bowl,--
Feed on tear-washed fruits of toil,--
Mock at hapless orphans’ wail
And widows’ misery….
Sons of Temperance! Let’s unite
‘Ainst the wrong and for the right;
Dauntless, let us wage the fight
And battle ceaselessly! (10)
Although he held
no office at this time, Hindman quickly became a well recognized figure for the
Democrats throughout the summer legislative canvass, where he often spoke
following the candidates’ speeches. Whig newspapers lamented that Hindman was a
Democrat, while newspapers like the Democratic
Star enthusiastically predicted that Hindman would soon bear “aloft our
banner to victory”. Following his canvass tours that summer, Hindman traveled
to Little Rock to promote Helena’s railroad interests, in particular
the Arkansas Midland Railroad. On the whole, the legislative members were
impressed with Hindman’s “self-confidence and intellect”. (11)
Cleburne often broke the monotony of his law studies over the cold winter months
by going duck hunting in the local bayous and ponds. He was coming along with
his studies well, but another year of it would be necessary in order to pass
the arduous law examine. But the new year of 1855 brought bright prospects to
Patrick Cleburne. On February 16, by order of the state Circuit Court, he
became a naturalized citizen of these United States of America. Of his
new home, Cleburne
wrote, “I have some really kind and disinterested friends here
and on the whole I like the place and the people very much, and to leave now
would be like leaving a second home.” (12)
Unlike Cleburne,
the new year began rather turbulently for Hindman. While in Little
Rock, a Dr. Moon and a man named Wilson confronted Hindman in a hotel on
January 18 with a cocked pistol. Apparently, Hindman had had no former problems
with the two, and denounced them as “cowardly and assassins” for threatening an
unarmed man. The following night, while lobbying in the House of
Representatives, Dr. Moon and Wilson again confronted Hindman. In response to a
drawn revolver from Wilson,
Hindman drew his derringer from his pocket and fired. The bullet glanced off
Moon’s belt buckle and entered his arm. Hindman leveled another pistol towards
Wilson, whom had taken cover behind a desk following the first shot. Suddenly,
an unruly mob rushed in, advancing towards Hindman and shouting “kill him”.
Hindman quickly retreated towards the Speaker’s stand, announcing that he would
surrender himself to the lawful authorities. Although he was released after posting
a two thousand dollar bond, Hindman had to attend trial in June, at which he
was cleared of all charges. The incident only raised the Democrats’ opinion of
Hindman, whom they considered had acted as “prudently as any reasonable man
could under the circumstances”. (13)
That spring,
in response to a growing political factor in eastern Arkansas known as the Know-Nothings, the Phillips County
Democratic Association was formed. Cleburne, who felt threatened by the Know-Nothings’ almost fanatical opposition to immigrates, especially
the Irish, was among the eighty-four signers of the association’s constitution
and was later voted in as secretary in August along with the election of
Senator Sebastian as president.
The
Know-Nothing Party, or American Party as they preferred to be called, dated
back to the 1840s, but was not a major political factor until the dissolve
of the Whig Party over the Kansas-Nebraska Act, in which Northern Whigs opposed
the proposed act by a Democrat Senator from Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas. The
break-up of the party resulted in its former members joining other parties,
such as the Know-Nothings and Republicans.
In February
1855, leaders of the party met in Philadelphia and decided “that
the organization had no future in the South unless it committed itself to a
platform plank asserting that Congress had no authority to legislate on the
question of slavery”. With this in mind, Albert Pike, a native of Massachusetts and former Whig, went to Arkansas to sponsor public rallies for the new
party. Dr. Nash noted that “many acrimonious speeches were made” and that the “political
spirit ran so high at this time that it had invaded every household in the
country. It was father against son and mother against daughter. Politics was a
personal matter.” (14)
An example of this occurred one night in
1856, when Nash invited Cleburne
and Major Andrew Jackson Donaldson over to his house for supper. Donaldson was
a wealthy man who had a plantation about twenty miles from Helena
in Mississippi
and was running for vice president that year on the Know-Nothing ticket.
Although neither Nash or his wife particularly liked the major (Mrs. Nash later
referred to him as “an old Kentucky hog
driver”), Nash had relatives in Tennessee
who were great admirers of him. Nash wrote that while eating the “downright good dinner” prepared by Mrs.
Nash, Donaldson began to praise the principles of the American Party. Cleburne, feeling
threatened by his anti-Irish remarks, replied, “Major, are you not mistaken in
the name? They call themselves ‘know nothings,’ which we in Arkansas think very appropriate, since at
the next election we will teach them how little they do know.” At this,
Donaldson “replied in one of his forcible but rough ways and, speaking to a
foreigner, rather personal”. However, Cleburne
did not “give way to his Irish temper” and the dinner was ended peaceably with
unfriendly handshakes. (15)
As far as Thomas Hindman was concerned, the
Know Nothings were:
“pestilent fanatics”
who closed their doors to foreign born “friends of the South”, while opening
them to “anti-slavery fanatics and their Southern sympathizers.” “The bitterest
of all abolitionists” were Northern Know Nothings whose “hostility to
immigration” was “as notorious” as it was “relentless.” “All friends of the
South” mush oppose these “unscrupulous demagogues and political preachers” who
had “banded together” in an anti-Catholic crusade that threatened religious
liberty. Hindman determined to crush the Know Nothing monster, with its secret
pass words, oaths, and hand clasps, before it could seriously imperil
Democratic hegemony in Arkansas.
Although
the movement made less progress in Arkansas than in other Southern states, and
what progress was made usually occurred in the larger cities and towns among
the merchants and commercial men, the members of
the Phillips
County Democratic Association were spurred to action throughout the summer and
into the fall with a series of mass meetings across the northern part of the
state. (16)
At every meeting, prominent democrats like
Hindman and Sebastian, as well as lesser-known speakers like
Crary and Cleburne,
addressed the large crowds and closed with free barbecue for everyone. At one
meeting in Marianna,
Cleburne delivered a speech which was described
thus to a Helena
newspaper:
The platform was
erected under a delightful shade, made by interlaced vines…The ladies were in
attendance, and their bright eyes and winning smiles, lent additional
attractions to the occasion….[Cleburne] dwelt earnestly upon the monarchical
and tyrannical tendencies of the new organization….We had a plentiful and
substantial dinner, and universal good humor prevailed.
Although
Cleburne lacked
Hindman’s oratory skills, the crowds were impressed at his earnestness and “crowded
around him to drink in every word he said”. The Democratic Star reported that the speech was “one of the most
interesting and telling speech[es] we ever listened to.” The most important
aspect of Cleburne’s
speeches was his argument that “legislation aimed at foreigners, including
Irishmen, was… unconstitutional—an argument that had particular poignancy
presented as it was in a mild Irish lilt”. On this aspect, Dr. Nash recalls, Cleburne “had a great
influence with the Irish and carried their vote unanimously for the democrats”.
Among all the speakers, though, Hindman labored the hardest and was praised the
most for his performances. Weather it was helping to establish new associations
in Arkansas or arousing “Democrats who had previously manifested but little
interest in political matters”, Hindman was at the forefront of the action with
“brilliancy of intellect”. Dr. Nash noted that taking “the condition of things
as they were, it was a timely opportunity for the advent of a man such as
Hindman, with daring bravery, forcible speech and eloquent language. These
combinations Hindman possessed in an eminent degree.” In him, the democrats
found a willing leader, for he “was more than a match for any man the know
nothings could bring against him”. (17)
In September, while Hindman and Cleburne were campaigning in Marianna, a number of
citizens in Helena contracted the yellow fever
from sick passengers of a steamboat from New
Orleans. Doctor Nash noted that as “soon as the news
spread of the advance of this fever, all who could get out of town fled to the
country for safety, leaving only a few to take care of the sick and bury the
dead.” The few referred to consisted of Helena’s
three doctors, Dr. Grant, Dr. Jacks, and himself. After eleven long days in
which they labored to curb the advance of the illness, Dr. Grant fell ill.
Despite efforts to enlist help, “a complete panic had struck the citizens” and
no help came to the two doctors. Thankfully, though, Hindman and Cleburne, who learned of
the epidemic upon their return from Marianna, arrived in town and immediately
began to help them. Dr. Nash recalled:
There never will be
three persons who braved every danger and made more personal sacrifices than
the three young philanthropists named above. They made their rounds day and
night, doing all the labor of women consistent with modesty and decorum. They
went to the bakery and with their own means purchased bread, made tea and soups
with their own inexperienced hands, and performed all kinds of menial labor. If
in this contest one deserved more praise than the other, the mantle should fall
on the young preacher’s shoulders. He would take his little pocket Bible with
him wherever he went, read a chapter, sing a hymn, and deliver a short
prayer…There is no doubt but many souls were saved at the eleventh hour by the
spiritual comfort he was able to give them. There were no battles in our late
war in which Arkansas’ two prominent generals showed more courage and self
exposure than in this…In this instance the air was charged with the deadly
bullets from a million batteries—yellow fever germs. The characters in this
drama, Cleburne
and Hindman, distinguished themselves on bloody battle fields, and their
memories have gone down in a sheen of glory…
On
October 3, eighteen volunteers arrived in town and formed a relief committee, with
James Crary as chairman. By October 10, the fever had subsided considerably,
following several heavy frosts, and people returned to town. The relief
committee member’s contributions were not forgotten, as the editor of the Democrat Star soliloquized: “They have
proved themselves friends to the sick and the dead, the poor and the needy, and
to the widow and orphan.” As soon as the epidemic was over, Hindman and Cleburne were back on the
campaign trail. (18)
On the 22 and 23 of November,
the Philips County Democratic Association hosted a huge rally outside of Helena at the foot of Crowley’s Ridge. The celebration opened with
a brass band, which Cleburne had procured from Memphis, leading the procession from town to the selected
sight, aptly named Camp
Jefferson. The Stars and
Stripes flapped in the breeze, cannons boomed from several steamboats on the
river, and tables were covered with meats, breads, cakes, pickles, and
beverages. Hindman, the coordinator of the event and keynote speaker, received
a flag from the ladies of Helena.
On a white field was a spread eagle, surrounded by the words, “Arkansas
Democrats: The Old Guard Never Surrenders.” Hindman promised that the banner
would not “ falter or retreat or lay down their arms until Know Nothingism was
extinct and Democracy everywhere [emerged] triumphant.” On the second day,
Senator Sebastian, Gideon Pillow, and others addressed the people, who were
estimated to number as many as 10,000, and the celebration ended at the
Commercial Hotel with a fine supper and ball. The next morning, the Democrat Star printed several original
songs that the Philips County Democrats had composed for the event. One was
sung to the tune of “Old Virginia” and ran thus:
O have you heard the news of late,
How Sam got whipped all ‘round
In ev’ry true blooded Southern state,
We’ve run him under ground.
So carry him back to Yankeeland,
He can’t hide here any more;
His tyrant code finds no demand,
Upon our southern shore…
To prove we’re not Americans,
He turned his footsteps south;
But we’ll send him home with empty
hands,
And his fingers in his mouth.
So carry him back to Yankeeland,
We loved our homes before,
The patriot’s fire need not be fanned,
Upon our Southern shore.
Another song titled “Invitation” which appeared in the
newspaper, reproving the Know Nothings dislike of immigrates, was doubtlessly
influenced by Cleburne,
if not written entirely by him.
We will not spurn for this free land,
The stranger, weak and worn.
Who seeks like a bird with drooping
wing,
Shelter from wind, and storm;
He flies to this, our far famed shore,
As a home for the poor oppressed,
We’ll not thrust him back with scorn,
To seek elsewhere for rest. (19)
In December, Judge Hanly was appointed to the state
Supreme Court. Therefore, on January 22, 1856, Cleburne, having completed his two years of
study, was enrolled as a member of the bar, by the motion of James Crary and
the Circuit Court.
Helena had an extraordinary amount of lawyers
for its size. But arguments which arose between settlers over land deals and
the cases of shootings and stabbings in that frontier town were always enough
to keep them in business. With five law partnerships and six independent firms
in Helena, it was a daunting task for Cleburne to make a name
for himself. That month, the firm of Alexander & Cleburne was established,
announcing, in a newspaper, to “attend all the courts in the first circuit of
this State, and the various courts in the western counties of Western
Mississippi.” Although of relativity small
importance, Cleburne‘s first case drew quite a crowd. His client, a wealthy
widow, wished to eject an equally wealthy tenant from her land. Representing
the tenant was Charles Adams, a former judge and seasoned lawyer whom Cleburne regarded as a
mentor in things concerning law. In his opening arguments Cleburne began, with his usual force and
emphasis, by trying to invalidate the testimony of the defendant. He closed his speech with a direct appeal to the
jury on his client’s behalf by saying that the tenant should have had more
respect for the widow, than to drag her to court to defend her rights. After
this eloquent plea, everyone in the room thought that the young lawyer had just
won his first case. However, as it turned out, this “was a case where Adams thought prudence was the better part of valor.”
Therefore, when Charles Adams arose, he calmly explained
that he would never drag a lady into court, but that he did not make the laws,
and that it “made no exception in cases of business contracts between men and
women”. Next, Adams pulled out a contract
which had the widow’s signature on it, along with the names of two respectable
witnesses. He asked the widow if she had signed it, to which she replied in the
affirmative. Adams then showed the widow the
part of the contract which she had overlooked at the time of her signing and
explained that, no matter how ignorant of the law she may be, she could not
avoid it. When Cleburne objected to this, Adams, smiling, said that he disclaimed any intention of
wounding anyone’s feelings over the matter. The jury ruled in favor of Adams’
client and Cleburne
left the courthouse, resolving to read the technical language of contracts more
carefully next time and not to rely entirely on the basis of fairness. (20)
Years
after the war, L.H. Mangum, a former law partner of Cleburne’s, summarized his career in that
profession:
While Cleburne was not a brilliant
lawyer [not a Princeton graduate] he had all
the elements of success and distinction in his profession. His reading was
careful and extensive, his application constant, his judgment clear, and his
earnestness always a marked characteristic of the man clothed him with real
ability. He was scrupulously honest and upright, stood well among his brother
lawyers, and commanded not only a good practice but a wide and deep respect
among the people. (21)
Sources
1: The Lion of the South: chapter 2 page 21
2: Ibid: chapter 1 page 2
3: Ibid: page 4
4: Ibid: page 5
: Ibid
: Ibid
5: Biographical
Sketches: page 58
6: Ibid: page
59
7: Ibid: page 87
8: Pat Cleburne Confederate General chapter 3 page 24
9: Biographical Sketches: pages 60-61
10: Ibid: page 73
: Ibid: page
74
: Pat
Cleburne Confederate General chapter 3 pg 25
: The Lion
of the South: chapter 1 page 14
11: Ibid: chapter 2 page 24
: Ibid
12: Pat Cleburne Confederate General chapter 3 page 25
13: The Lion of the South: chapter 2 page 26
: Ibid
: Ibid pg 27
14: Stonewall of the West: chapter 2 page 38
:
Biographical Sketches: page 89
: Ibid
15: Ibid: page 93
: Ibid: page
92
: Ibid: pages
92-93
: Ibid: page
93
: Ibid
16: The Lion of the South: chapter 2 page 29
17: Pat Cleburne Confederate General: chapter 3 pg 29
: Stonewall
of the West: chapter 2 page 39
: Ibid
: Ibid
:
Biographical Sketches: page 89
: The Lion
of the South: chapter 2 pages 29-30
:
Biographical Sketches: pages 75-6
: Ibid: page
74
18: Ibid: page 53
: Ibid: page
54
: Ibid:
pages 54-55
: The Lion
of the South: chapter 2 page 33
19: Ibid: page 30
: Ibid
: Ibid: page
31
: Ibid: page
32
20: Stonewall of the West: chapter 2 page 40
:
Biographical Sketches: page 82
: Ibid: page
81
21: Pat Cleburne Confederate General: chapter 3 page
34