The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-09-04
SWAPPING HORSES.
: An Anecdot. 81 war Times.

An Anecdot. Of War Tlmes.
One of the best known characters IN
Gen. John H. Morgau's cavalry diyis.
ion was Parson W. He was an ak.
cellent man and an excellent soldier
and bis piety was as true as his patriot.
ism. Still, with all his good qualities.
the parson was exceedingly eccentric.
and. perhaps, as opinionated and stub.
born citizen us the southern confed-
eracy had in her borders.
He was the m0st aggressive, the
fiercest, the most tenacious disputant
that ever dissected the resolutions of
%, or knocked man down for not
readily discerning the distinction be-
tween secession and cooperation. {"
His sincerity only made him the more
obstinate. On account OF his nerve.
astuteness, large acquaintance in Ken
lucky, and thorough knowledge Of the
country, he was very frequently sent
by Gen. Morgan into the state to OBJ
tain the Information required, not only
to guide his own operations but for the
use Of the army. Upon these expedi-
tons he was generally accompanied by
Dan Ray. q gallant, splendid fellow, as
intelligent and nervy as the parson, but
the soul Of good humor. Dan never
engaged in argument, except to start
the parson and crafty his fun-loving
disposition at the latter's expense.
One day they were riding along to-
gether, somewhere In southern Ken
lucky. when the conversation turned
on q practice very prevalent at that
time among those who 'jined the cav
airy" and, 1t must be confessed, car
ried to Its fullest extent in "Morgan's
command" They began to discuss
'.horse- pressing Dan mildly excus-
ed and even advocated it, upon the
ground that it was military necessi-
ty." but admitted that it was some
times abused,
The parson condemned II In toto.
He would not acknowledge that 1t
could be defendeS or palliated under
any circumstaL .,es. He stated that
Gen. Morgan's conntenance of such q
practice was the one thing which pre-
vented him from entertaining an other
wise unqualified admiration of that Of
ficer. He said that he prayed daily
and nightly that his comrades might
bs forgiven for it, but intimated In
strong terms that he didn't believe
they would be. He concluded by as
serting that it was the great national
sin, on account of which the southern
confederacy would be destroyed, il 1t
was fated to fall
Ray prudeatly lot the matter drop.
inasmuGh as the parson had got warm
ed up almost to the fighting point.
On the next day the parson was COM
PEELED to have his horse shod. and the
clumsy smith pricked one hoot so bad
dead lame. This was serious matter
under the circumstances. and both
Dan aud the parson became very anx-
ious and apprehensive. just when they
had about concluded to retraee their
steps to point far in the rear, where
the parson might procure remonnt--
o proceeding which would have involv-
cd unfortunate aud perhaps dangerous
delay-a wellste-do looking man came
riding down the road on remark ably
fine horse. The sight of such horse
mouth water, and reduce scruple, il
he had one, to an infnitesimal degree.
The parson looked, longed, and lei
down. 1t was predestined, he felt,
that he should have that horse.
He gracefully opened tho prelimina-
ry conversation to the ''swap" he had
already determined on by saying:
That's a mighty likely horse you're
riding. sir-a mighty likely animal"
"Yes," was the response, she's q
right peart nag
"Sound, too. amt hep Nothing the
matter with himP''
swell, stranger, he's sound from his
eyes to his hoofs. Thar amt nothin'
soft about him, if do say it myself, "
"Ihat's good chunk OF a horse,
too," said the parson, pointing to his
own. "He's by Denmark, and his dam
was by Drennon out of Whip mare.
He can 90 all the gaits when he's we'll,
but fool OF blacksmith pricked him
this morning"
Pull his shoes Oft and let him stand
in the wet grass
al haven't got the time. | am en-
gagged in the public service and must
get on rapidly. So Pm compelled to
swap for your horse. You can doctor
this fellow. You have leisure, and
seem to be an intelligent man."
1.-THE h-ll you say! Well, stranger,
you're the drunkest man, to hide it Sc
we'll. ever see."
Don't use profane language in my
presence, shouted the parson, "but
help me to shift saddles. You're get,
tin much the best of the trade. There
amt such single-footed walker as my
horse, that is to say, ms your horse
for now he is yours-in all Kentucky.
Don't multiply words" he continued,
as the other party to the swap" still
protested, "but climb down and shift
saddles. Your horse, there. sir, needs
attention. Take him home and doctor
him." And he enforced obedience by
drawing an army Colt.
The bargain was concluded; the par
son mounted his new steed, and the
pair pushed on. After riding some
miles In silence. Ray remarked. very
soberly, 81 have been bordering what
you said yesterday. parson, about
horse-pressing. and I'm compelled to
admit that you were right. l am sat-
isfied that it can not be defended
Or"
''Dan Ray" broke in the parson qui-
city, but with very significant empha-
sis, 81 don't want to hear you discuss
a matter you don't understand, Your
mind hasn't been trained to consider
questions of this nature and to draw
proper distinctions. That matter back
yonder wasn't case of horse press
ing 1t was compulsory trade. made
necessary by the unsettled condition OF
the times and country, and because the
laws regulating the making and en-.
forcements Of contracts are rather 81.
lent just now. ] could demonstrate
this without the least difficulty to any
assembly accustomed to the discussion
OF such questions, But if you ever al,
Jude to it again rHhang IN your WOol"'
Southern BiVOasdc.