LIFE AND TIMES OF C. G. MEMMINGER. Life TimeS

CHAPTER I.

His Parentage and Childhood.

N the ninth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and three, was born in the town of Nay

hingen, in the Dukedom of Würtemberg, Ger

many, CHRISTOPHER GUSTAVUS MEMMINGER, only son of Christopher Godfrey Memminger, Quartermaster of the Prince-Elector's Battalion of Foot Jægers, or Riflemen, and Eberhardina Elisabeth Memminger, whose maiden name had been Kohler.

The following certificate of the birth and baptism of the remarkable man whose history I am writing, is taken from the Register of Baptisms and duly signed by the Deacon in charge at the time it was executed. The certificate, in the German language, is as follows:

Taufschein .

Den 9. Januar, 1803, wurde hier ehelich geboren und den 10. desselben Monats getauft:

Die Eltern find:

Christoph Gustav.

Herr Christoph Gottfried Memminger, Quartier Meister bey dem churfürstlichen Fuß
Jäger Batallion, und Fr. Éberhardina Elisabetha-geb. Kohlerin.

Taufzeugen waren:

Herr Johann Michael Kohler, Rathsverwandter und Weißgerber, und dessen Ehefrau, Frau Sabina Magdalena, Großeltern, und Frau Sabina Gaugerin, Goldarbeiters in Stutt gart Ehefrau.

Daß vorstehende Angabe dem hiesigen Taufbuche conform sey bezeugt.

Nay hingen, d. 16. Januar, 1803.

(Signed)

M. Duttenhoffer,
Diaconus.

Translation.

On the 9th day of January, one thousand eight hundred and three, was born in this town, and on the tenth day of the same month was baptized, Christopher Gustavus. His parents are Herr Christopher Godfrey Memminger, Quartermaster of the Prince-Elector's Battalion of Foot Jægers (or Riflemen), and Mrs. Eberhardina Elisabeth Memminger, whose maiden name was Kohler.

The sponsors of the child were his grandparents- namely, Mr. John Michael Kohler, a member of the Town Council, and by trade a tanner, and his wife, Mrs. Sabina Magdalena Kohler, together with Mrs. Sabina Gauger, wife of Mr. Gauger, a goldsmith at Stuttgart.

The foregoing is a true extract from and conformable to the Register of Baptisms. In witness whereof I have signed these presents with my

name.

(Signed)

Nayhingen, 16 January, 1803.

M. DUTTENHOFER, Deacon.

His father was stationed at the time at Heilbronn, which, he informs us, was a garrisoned town some twenty-seven miles from the home where he had left his wife, for the discharge of a soldier's duty. In anticipation of this most important social event to him, the gallant officer had obtained a furlough and was at home with his precious loves. The following letter, written by him to his sister, is so admirable an expression of the father's natural joy, that I give it place here, the only and sufficient evidence of his worth as a man which could be asked for. The letter is in the German language and in the handwriting of one who was evidently a good pensman as well as an accomplished gentleman. While the translation may not convey the elegance and force of the German language, it will express, without being too liberal, the congratulations of the good father, and plainly indicates that Godfrey Memminger was a man of education, while the tender solicitude and respectful address to his sister evidence a refinement of feeling characteristic of the gentleman every where. Indeed, it could hardly have been otherwise, since his father was an official of no mean rank in the University of Babenhausen

TO MADAME GOLDSMITH GAUGER

(Maiden name Memminger), at Stuttgart:

Dear Sister,—I am at present for a few days on furlough and with my dear wife, therefore I answer your kind letter received just before leaving my post.

I now have the pleasure to inform you with the agreeable news that we have born unto us on the 9th of the month, between the hours of 10 and 11 at night, a fine healthful son. . . . He was christened in my absence by the name of Christoph Gustav; his sponsors were father and mother-in-law and yourself by proxy. . . . I hope and trust that you will excuse me with the confidence I have in you and of the friendship and sister's love which you will bring to the responsible situation of

sponsor.

To-morrow morning I shall return to our garrison in Heilbronn (27 miles from Nayhingen). In my next furlough I intend to ask for fourteen days and intend to see you. . . .

We salute you and your dear husband affectionately and remain

Your true brother,

GOTFRIED.

This letter is dated at Nayhingen, January 16, 1803. It will be noticed that it is signed with the christened name of the writer; a custom, I am informed, that prevails in Germany among the military and well-born. Alas! the gallant officer of the Prince-Elector's battalion was not destined to secure another leave of absence, but met the fate of a brave soldier. Within one month from the time that he returned to his post of duty, a grave at Heilbronn became the resting place of Christopher Godfrey Memminger, and the soldier was off duty forever.

The name Memminger appears to be not only well known in the kingdom of Würtemberg, but several members of the family have at different times reached distinction there and elsewhere in the German Empire.

Johann Friedrich Memminger, the grandfather of Christopher Gustavus, was at one time an officer of rank in the University of Babenhausen.

Henri Memminger, the son of Gustavus, and the first cousin of our Mr. Memminger, appears to have achieved