Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-03

uOuDJ commune tnb DuSlle6S III LuaI
way when he shall have retired from
its active pursuit, which will not be
in a few years, for Mr.. Burnett is a
hale, young looking man at the present
time
Death Of a Gallant Ex-COnfede-
rate.
Mr.. Charley Renig, a well known
citizen OF this city, formerly in the
tobacco business, left here about the
middle of last month, during the
heated term, to make a prospecting
trip through Arkansaw. He reached
Fort Smith on the 18th Of August and
wrote back to his family that he was
much pleased with the place and
thought he would locate there. That
was the last they ever heard from him
alive. In a day or two he began to
complain of feeling unwell, and on
Sunday, the 2lst, a doctor was called
in, but no particular treatment was
adopted. At seven O'Clock that even
ing another doctor was called, but it
was too late, nothing could be done.
Death supervened at 1890 that night.
In his last hours he received all pcs
sible attention, but without avail.
-
He was Of a full habit and
rather Aeshy, and it is supposed
by his friends here that he
had an attack of sun stroke or Apo
piexy. His remains were placed in
a handsome case, sent to Memphis and
buried here.
Mr.. Renig was born in Bavaria, and
lived to be about thirty-nine years
old. IIe came to this country when
quite young. AT the beginning Of the
late warhe enlisted in this city as a pri-
waite in Company 81 Of the Fifteenth
Tennessee regiment infantry, Confed-
crate States army. He served through
out the war with remarkable en-
durance and bravery, participated in
nearly all the great battles of the
West, and escaped without a wound.
In July, 1863, the Fifteenth Tennes-
see regiment was consolidated with
the Thirty-seventh Tennessee regi-
ment, to which the writer of this was
attached. From that on there was a
personal acquaintance, which author
ICES the remark that a drawer soldier
than Charlie Rcnig never lived.
This is fully verified by a circum-
stance which occurred at Dalton, Ca,
in 1864, when General 10. Johnston's
army was in winter quarters. 1t will
be remembered by all who lived there
in huts aud tents that severe winter
that ratiOns we're none too abundant;
in fact a very meager allowance Of
common diet was issued, and the
army was held under very rigid dis
cipline. The soldiers had to drill
several hours daily, to police the
camps, do guard duty day and night,
and frequently to go on picket at the
front. The utmost powers of endur-
ance we're thus put to the test and the
finest soldierly qualities brought out.
Washington's ragged, barefooted pa.
triots at Valley Forge may have suf-
fered more, but they could not have
been in better athletic and fighting
condition than 10. Johnston's vet
Grams, campsd and picketed on the
bleak hills around Dalton that mis-
cradle winter.
The men as a rule made the best Of
the situation, but in most Of their
waking hours they we're hungry as
wolves, and sometimes in a not much
better humor. General Johnston
was outstanding his resources for the
spring campaign, but men with grip
ing, empty stomachs could not be re-
lieved by the assurance that rations
would be more than doubled when
they started on the march and took
the field for the summer campaign.
A number.who felt full of volunteer
mettle, rather than Of hard bread and
tough beef, manifested a spirit Of in
subordination. When they could get
away, they raided the country fol-
twenty or thirty miles around, and
bought, begged or pressed everything
TO be had to eat. Even Major. Gen
eral Bates milk COW, kept at head.
quarters by Major T. II. Hartmus,
the Commissary, was stolen one bitter
cold night by some Of the
Fifteenth boys and killed and distrib-
uted in slices 50 quickly that the Of
fehSe could never be located. Charley
Renig may have had a hand in this,
but when he was on duty he obeyed
orders and was lion hearted.
One night in the latter part of Feb
} ruary he was detailed and placed on
guard in front OF the Coulmissary de.
w.E.a.a -. - Il "