General E. P. Alexander, Chief of Artillery of Longstreet’s Corps, tells
of a trade that occurred during the retreat from Gettysburg:
“Near Hagerstown I had an experience with an old Dunkard which gave me a
high and lasting respect for the people of that faith. My scouts had had
a horse 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 had told him we had some hoof-sore horses we should have to leave
behind, he came to ask if I would trade him one of those for his horse,
as without one his crop would be lost.
“I recognized the old man at once as a born gentleman in his delicate
characterization of the transaction as a trade. I was anxious to make
the trade as square as circumstances would permit. So I assented to his
taking a foot-sore horse, and offered him besides payment in Confederate
money. This he respectfully declined. Considering how the recent battle
had gone, I waived argument on the point of its value but tried another
suggestion. I told him that we were in Maryland as the guests of the
United States; that after our departure the Government would pay all
bills left behind; and that I would give him an order on the United
States 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 simply ignorant of the bonanza in a claim against the Government,
and I explained that; and, telling him that money was no object to us
under the circumstances, I offered to include the value of his whole
farm. He again said he wanted nothing but the foot-sore horse. Still
anxious that the war should not grind this poor old fellow in his
poverty, I suggested that he take two or three foot-sore horses which we
would have to leave anyhow, when we marched. Then he said, ‘Well, sir, I
am a Dunkard, and the rule of our church 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
was worth a dozen old battery scrubs; and after some time prevailed on
him to take two, by calling one of them a gift. But that night we were
awakened about midnight by approaching hoofs, and turned out expecting
to receive some order. It was my old Dunkard leading one of his
foot-sores. ‘Well, sir,’ he said, ‘you made it look all right to me
today when you were talking; but after I went to bed tonight I got to
thinking it all over, and I don’t think I can explain it to the church,
and I would rather not try.’ With that he tied old foot-sore to a fence
and rode off abruptly. Even at this late day it is a relief to my
conscience to tender to his sect this recognition of their integrity and
honesty, in lieu of the extra horse which I vainly endeavored to throw
into the trade. Their virtues should commend them to all financial
institutions in search of incorruptible employees.”