368

THE GREAT CHARGE AND ARTILLERY FIGHTING.

fighting us. Such transactions we called “ pressing ” for short; and, by theway, we often practiced it both at home and abroad, but our own people tookit more complacently than did the “ Dutch ” farmers of Pennsylvania .

Near Hagerstown I had an experience with an old Dunkard which gave mea high and lasting respect for the people of that faith. My scouts had had ahorse transaction with this old gentleman, and he came to see me about it.He made no complaint, but said it was his only horse, and as the scouts hadtold him we had some hoof-sore horses we should have to leave behind, hecame to ask if I would trade him one of those for his horse, as without onehis crop would be lost.

I recognized the oltl man at once as a born gentleman in his delicatecharacterization of the transaction as a trade. I was anxious to makethe trade as square as circumstances would permit. So I assented to histaking a foot-sore horse, and offered him besides payment in Confederatemoney. This he respectfully but firmly declined. Considering how therecent battle had gone, I waived argument on the point of its value, but triedanother suggestion. I told him that we were in Maryland as the guests ofthe United States ; that after our departure the Government would pay allbills that we left behind, and that I would give him an order on the UnitedStates for the value of his horse and have it approved by General Longstreet.To my surprise he declined this also. I supposed then that he was simplyignorant of the bonanza in a claim against the Government, and I explainedthat; and, telling him that money was no object to us under the circum-stances, I offered to include the value of his whole farm. He again said hewanted nothing but the foot-sore horse. Still anxious that the war shouldnot grind this poor old fellow in his poverty, I suggested that he take two orthree foot-sore horses which we would have to leave anyhow, when wemarched. Then he said, “ Well, sir, I am a Dunkard, and the rule of ourchurch is an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, and a horse for a horse,and I can’t break the rule.”

I replied that the Lord, who made all horses, knew that a good horse wasworth a dozen old battery scrubs; and after some time prevailed on him totake two, by calling one of them a gift. But that night, about midnight, wewere awakened by approaching hoofs and turned out expecting to receivesome order. It was my old Dunkard leading one of his foot-sores. “ Well?sir,” he said, u you made it look all right to me to-day when you were talking >but after I went to bed to-night I got to thinking it all over, and I don’t thinkI can explain it to the church, and I would rather not try.” With that he tiedold foot-sore to a fence, and rode off abruptly. Even at this late day it is arelief to my conscience to tender to his sect this recognition of their integrityand honesty, in lieu of the extra horse which I vainly endeavored to throwinto the trade. Their virtues should commend them to all financial institu-tions in search of incorruptible employees.