Douglas the Confederate Camel

Date: About 1861 to before 4 Jul 1864
Location: [unknown]

From Wikipedia:

Douglas The Camel, or “Old Douglas,” was a domesticated camel used by Company A of the Forty-third Mississippi Infantry, part of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Because of Old Douglas, the 43rd Mississippi Infantry came to be known as the Camel Regiment.[1] Douglas was originally part of a U.S. War Department program called the Texas Camel Experiment, which aimed to experiment with camels as a possible alternative to horses and mules, which were dying of dehydration in vast numbers. Jefferson Davis, who had ascended to the position of United States Secretary of War in 1853, was a strong proponent of the program, and used his political influence to make the experiment happen.[2] Although the details are unknown, Douglas somehow made his way to Mississippi, and eventually died, fittingly enough, at Davis's hometown of Vicksburg. He was initially given to Colonel W. H. Moore by 1st Lt. William Hargrove.[3] Besides being a mascot, Moore assigned Douglas to the regimental band, carrying instruments and knapsacks.

The Confederate Camel Corp, Camp Verde, Texas

Jefferson Davis was interested in Camels before the Civil War. Once war broke out, he thought the camel could be very useful in conquering the problem of distance. Overseeing the project for Davis was Maj. Henry Wayne, another camel advocate, who argued that the animals could have direct military uses in "speedy communication," and even as cavalry. He speculated that "Americans will be able to manage camels not only as well, but better than Arabs, as they will do it with more humanity and with far greater intelligence." Moreover, he added, the project would be "a legacy to posterity, of precisely the same character as the introduction of the horse and other domestic animals by the early settlers of America."^[1][2][3]

Douglas is currently honored with his own grave marker in Vicksburg's Cedar Hill Cemetery, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. ^[4] He, along with other camels used during the war, is not overlooked by historians, nor by Civil War Reenactors. There is currently a group called the Texas Camel Corps, whose mission is to promote the stories of camels, like Old Douglas, used during the Civil War.

Old Douglas was reported eaten by the men of the 43rd during the Siege of Vicksburg.^[5]

After dismantling the corp, some of the camels were simply released to wander in the deserts. In the mid-1870s one wandered into Fort Selden, New Mexico Territory. The young son of the post commander saw it and ran, terrified, to hide behind his mother. The post commandant was COL Arthur MacArthur. The terrified child grew up to be General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.^[6]

Camels have not been ignored by Civil War Reenactors!

Buffalo Soldier with Reenactment Camel

Sources

1. ↑ The Short. Life of the Camel Corp.
2. ↑ Camel Corp, the Army's. Most Successful Failure.
3. ↑ United States Camel Corp.
4. ↑ A Most Curious Corp.
5. ↑ Doulas' Ultimate Fate.
6. ↑ US Army Camel Corp History.

See also:

• CONFEDERATE VETERAN MAGAZINE, VOL. 1, P.267

• CONFEDERATE VETERAN MAGAZINE, VOL. 11, NO. 11 "'OLD DOUGLAS' --THE CAMEL BURDEN BEARER.

• Whatever Happened to the Wild Camels of the American West?