CAMELS JOIN THE ARMY!

Camels Join the Army!

by Carol D. Greathouse

On a stormy day in April 1856, a ship carrying Egyptian cargo sailed along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The ship pitched sharply in the high seas. Days passed before the captain was able to transfer his freight to a small boat that could take it to shore. After three months at sea, 34 camels were about to set foot on U.S. soil.

The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps, which belonged to the U.S. War Department. The head of the corps was Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements.

Once on land, the camels had to travel to their permanent home at Camp Verde, Texas.

Biting, Kicking, Spitting, and Smelling

The journey was not easy, and many problems occurred. Army men were familiar with horses and mules but not camels.

Packing supplies around the hump in the middle of a camel’s saddle frustrated the men. Some believed the camels held grudges and waited to get even by biting, kicking, or spitting at them. Above all else, the camels smelled. Their odor was so strong that even one whiff sent horses stampeding. The army sent a rider ahead of the camels yelling, “Get out of the road; the camels are coming.”

Camels on the Go

When the camels were used to carry supplies for a War Department expedition, they proved their worth. Expedition leader Edward Fitzgerald Beale praised them. He explained that camels could carry water for days without drinking and haul heavy supplies for long periods while surviving on very little food.

On Active Duty

Five years after the camels arrived in the United States, the American Civil War divided the country. Southern states seceded, forming the Confederate States of America. As Texas debated leaving the Union, General Twiggs suggested ending the Camel Corps to save money.

Before a decision was made, Texas seceded. Camp Verde was taken over by Confederate soldiers, who gained control of the camels.

For the next four years, some camels were used to haul cotton and deliver mail around San Antonio. However, many were left unused. Some wandered away, and others were occasionally used to carry supplies.

When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels became property of the U.S. government. In 1866, the remaining camels were sold. Some went to ranches, while others were eventually released into the wild. For years afterward, people reported seeing wild camels roaming the American Southwest.