November 5, 1849

Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, later the highest-ranking Irish-born officer in American military history, boarded the ship Bridgetown for America, landing in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Christmas Day. Cleburne entered the Civil War as commander of the Yell Rifles, which became part of the First Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He became a drugstore owner and lawyer in his new Arkansas hometown of Helena (Phillips County) and was a delegate to the Democratic Convention in 1858. Cleburne County was named for him when it was established in 1883.