[15] On the morning of the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, Major General Patrick Cleburne, while riding along the line, encouraging his men, saw an old friend—a captain in his command—barefooted, and feet bleeding. Alighting from his horse he told the Captain to “please” pull off his boots. Upon the Captain doing so, the General told him to try them on, which he did. Whereupon the General mounted his horse, telling the Captain he was tired of wearing boots, and could well do without them. He would hear of no remonstrance, and bidding the Captain good-by, rode away. In this condition he was killed.
[16] Brave to a fault, he was cut down in his early youth, and fell a willing sacrifice at the altar of his country. Among his last words he said, “I fell beside my gun.”
[17] The chorus is sung to the second part of the air, excepting after the fifth and sixth verses.
[18] Several weeks after the commencement of the terrific bombardment, ladies were seen coolly walking the streets, and children in many parts of the city engaged, as ever, in their playing, only stopping their sport for the moment to gaze and listen at the bursting shells.
[19] The above lines were found written upon the back of a five-hundred dollar Confederate note, subsequent to the surrender.