Helena in Phillips County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Patrick Cleburne in Helena
— A Part of the Civil War Discovery Trail —
Patrick Cleburne found a home, friends and a profession in Helena. When the Civil War began, he supported his adopted state, writing to his brother, Richard, "I am with Arkansas in weal and woe."
From Clerk to Lawyer Two years after arriving in Helena, Patrick Cleburne became a partner in the Grant and Nash Drugstore. When he and his partner sold the store, Cleburne used his profits to enter into the study of law. Becoming a lawyer offered Cleburne what he most wanted, an "avenue to distinction and civil importance."
"These people have been my friends"
By the time he became a citizen in 1855, Patrick Cleburne had entered wholeheartedly into Helena's social life. He formed a chess club, joined the local Masonic order, and was an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church. Cleburne counted among his friends John J. Hornor, James Millinder Hanks, Thomas C. Hindman and James C. Tappan — some of Helena's most influential men. The young Irish immigrant found a home and friends in Helena.
The Yell Rifles
During the summer of 1860, as the presidential election drew near, many Southern communities formed militia companies dedicated to defending the South and her institutions. Among those formed in Helena was the Yell Rifles, named after former Arkansas governor and Mexican War hero Archibald Yell. The men elected Patrick Cleburne their captain.
Leaving for War
In the spring of 1861, Patrick Cleburne and the 115 men of the Yell Rifles marched off to war. Before boarding the steamboat for Camp Rector, Cleburne addressed his men and the citizens of Helena at the Methodist Church.
As they escorted the men to the boat, the citizens of Helena could not know that most of the men, including Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, would never see Arkansas again.
[Photo captions]
Top right: St. John's Episcopal Church, 1864
Middle right: Patrick Cleburne's Book of Common Prayer
Now at the Phillips County Museum, this book is the only possession of Cleburne's known to be in Helena.
Bottom right: Patrick Cleburne in 1864
Hundreds of people attended Patrick Cleburne's farewell address at the Methodist Church, a frame building located on Porter Street at Walnut.
Erected 2013 by the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1855.
Location. 34° 31.711′ N, 90° 35.32′ W. Marker is in Helena, Arkansas, in Phillips County. Marker can be reached from Pecan Street south of Perry Street, on the right when traveling south. Located next to the Helena Museum of Phillips County. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 623 Pecan Street, Helena AR 72342, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. General Patrick Cleburne (here, next to this marker); The Irish Immigrant (here, next to this marker); Phillips County's Confederate Soldiers (here, next to this marker); The T-33 Shooting Star (within shouting distance of this marker); The American Legion Hut (within shouting distance of this marker); "We are all the same as dead men" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Arkansas' Mercí Car (about 400 feet away); Judge Jacob Trieber (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helena.
Also see . . . Patrick Cleburne. Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry (Submitted on October 22, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 357 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 22, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.