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Horse Tradin' Ben Green: The Legendary Horseman Who Conned the Confederacy

Gerald Bell

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Benjamin Franklin Green, also known as Horse Tradin' Ben Green, was a notorious horse trader during the American Civil War. He became famous for using his cunning and charisma to con both Union and Confederate soldiers, amassing a fortune and becoming a legend in the annals of American folklore.

Horse Tradin'

by Ben K. Green

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	802 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	324 pages

Early Life and Career

Ben Green was born in 1832 in Tennessee. As a young man, he worked as a horse trader and quickly developed a reputation for his sharp wit and ability to strike a good deal. In the early days of the Civil War, Green saw an opportunity to make a profit by trading horses between Union and Confederate forces.

Green would often approach Union soldiers who were desperate for fresh horses. He would offer them his own horses at inflated prices, promising that they were superior in quality to the Union's mounts. Many soldiers, desperate for a reliable horse, would fall for Green's sales pitch and pay dearly for his horses.

Once Green had sold his horses to the Union, he would then approach Confederate soldiers with a similar offer. He would tell them that he had just acquired a batch of superior Union horses and that he was willing to sell them to the Confederates at a discount. Many Confederate soldiers, eager to get their hands on fresh horses, would also fall for Green's con and pay him a hefty sum.

Green's horse trading operation was highly profitable, and he soon amassed a fortune. He became known as "Horse Tradin' Ben Green" and was said to have cheated both Union and Confederate soldiers out of thousands of dollars.

Capture and Imprisonment

In 1864, Green's luck ran out. He was captured by Union soldiers and charged with fraud. He was sentenced to five years in prison, and he served his time at the notorious Camp Douglas prison in Chicago.

While in prison, Green continued to trade horses with his fellow inmates. He even managed to con the prison warden into giving him a better cell in exchange for a horse.

After his release from prison, Green returned to horse trading. However, he never regained his former glory. He died in poverty in 1909, but his legend lived on.

Legacy

Horse Tradin' Ben Green is still remembered today as one of the most colorful characters of the American Civil War. His story is a testament to the power of cunning and charisma, and it serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed.

Green's legacy is also evident in the many stories that have been told about him. These stories often portray him as a trickster who outsmarted both Union and Confederate soldiers. In some stories, Green is even depicted as a hero who helped the Confederacy win the war.

Whether or not these stories are true, they all contribute to the legend of Horse Tradin' Ben Green. He remains one of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures of the American Civil War, and his story is sure to be told for generations to come.

Horse Tradin'

by Ben K. Green

4.7 out of 5