The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

The Missourian Killed by Patrick Cleburne

In August, 1861, Patrick Cleburne, then a colonel, killed a member of the Missouri State Guard, Pvt. George Carpenter, at Greenville, Missouri. The following letter explains the circumstances of the incident:

3LT WILLIAM S. RELFE TO DR. E. C. CARPENTER

July 10, 1862
Dear Sir:

Mr. Arnold has requested me to inform you of the circumstances of George's death, which I cheerfully do as nearly as I can remember them.

You will remember that I wrote you when the accident happened and informed you of the character of his wound and the opinions of the surgeons as to his recovery, but I[t] seems that he had a better knowledge of his case than they, for he remarked as soon as it was found that paralysis had [set in] that he would never get over it, and requested me to write you immediately to come and see him before he died, and I believe as long as he lived he anxiously expected you.

About the 1st of August, [1861] General Hardee ordered our Company to Washington County to burn some bridges on the I. M. R. R. and as we were returning to camp I was taken sick and left at a home on the road and George remained with me to give me medicine. When I got able to travel we resumed our march and the first night we stopped at Greenville, where General Hardee had his Hd Qtrs. As our company had gone from there, we were invited by Colonel Clabourne (sic) to stay at his quarters in the Court House which we did. About 2 o'clock in the night an effort was made by some prisoners guarded in the basement in the Court House to escape, which created a great deal of noise and confusion, and in the melee and darkness, George, while yet asleep ran into the Colonel's room hallooing and throwing his arms about in a threatenting manner, when Clabourne, not knowing who he was fired; and with too sure an aim; the ball passing through his shoulder into his neck. The next morning the army started back towards the Arkansas line, and Colonel Clabourne insisted on taking George with him, but he preferred to remain in some private house, but in two or three days I found he was getting worse and the accomodations were so bad, I wrote to Clabourne of the circumstances and he immediately sent an ambulance and two surgeons for him, and he was taken to the hospital at Pittman's Ferry where through the kindness of Colonel C. he had every attention and comfort that was necesary. Two nurses were detailed to wait on him, night and day, and see that he wanted nothing. I can assure you that every kindness and care possible under the circumstances he received, but he grew worse, and finally became delireous before he died. I regret to say that I was compelled to leave the Ferry for duty with my Company, and therefore was not present when he died. He often expressed a wish to see his mother and said, if he could lay his hand upon her bosom and feel her arms around his neck once more, he could die in peace, and to the day of his death he never ceased looking and hoping for your arrival. He was decently interred with the honors of war by the whole regiment. Poor fellow! His premature death was regretted by all who knew him, and well they might for a braver man, a better soldier, or a truer friend, never lived.

If at any time you wish to remove his remains, and I can aid you in any way, you have only to command my service.
Wm. S. Relfe