Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-10
about twenty i've thousand camsis, and that

vi,
from his experience he esteemed them highly;
SO much 80, that he had then at Sinope three
thousand of them, in addition to the few now
IN use in the Crimea, in readiness for the cam
paign next spring. The loads they will carry
depend much, he said, upon the service in
which they arc employcd-rapid movements
naturally requiring light burdens-but their
average loads, under favorable circumstances,
he stated to be about six hundred pounds, and
these they will carry easily, without pushing,
twenty-five to thirty miles a day. He men.
toned the interesting fact, which do not re-
member to have heard before, that during the
expedition against Sindc, General Napier or!
ganized most efficient corps Of one thousand
men, mounted upon FIVE hundred drom-
edaries-twa mon to each dromedary-thc men
sitting back to back, one facing the head, the
other the tail, and both armed with rifles and
slbres. The man facing the head was the
animal s groom and driver, and the manner
! OF using tho corps was as follows: Upon ar
irving at the scene Of operations the drome-
| daries were made to kneel, in square, under
charge of their five hundred drivers, forming,
as 1t were, base of operations, from which
the other Eve hundred operated as infantry
As the advanced body moved, the square, or
squares, If more than enc was formed, if re-
CURED, were also moved; and in case of ex-
tremlty, the square offered cover under
which the one thousand men could find COM
psrative shelter behind the animals, who were
prevented from rising by hobble on the fore
leg, and use their rifles most effectively. This
corps, Col. McMurdo informed me, could be
readily marched seventy miles in any direc-
ton in twelve hours, g SO miles per hour, }
and rendered throughout the campaign most
efficient service
Gen: Simpson stated that in the same cam
paign he found the camel SO serviceable that
he procured five or six for his personal use,
and tn lat with them he frequently went seventy
miles between sunset and sunrise. To q direct
question by Major Delafeld whom we met in
the Crimea) whether he would not have pre-.
,erred the best English horses to camels could
ne have obtained them, the General answered
no, that he would have preferred the clmel,
rs packing his baggage upon them in light
loads, he could move more quickly and con-
tinuously
In relation to our visiting Persia, the en-
dulrles we have made lead us to the conclusion
that, though we might readily get there, our
return, owing to the blocking up of the roads
bysnow, would be impossible until next spring.
As this would detain US much beyond the time
hxed tor our return to the United States, and
unnecessarily delay the experiment we are en-
gagged in, We have reluctantly abandoned the
journey, though we desired much TO see the
varieties OF the Persian camel, and particularly
the Leurbourck or dromedary artillery.
AJJurney into Persia, with the intention of
returning Immediately, must be commenced,
We find, about May. Our course from this
will be, think, to Syria or Egypt, for drom-
edarles, and then back to Smyrna for burden
camels, in the expectation of commencing our
return home sometime in February. 80.
The enquiries in relation to dromedaries for
the French army, reported in my letter Of the
IL Of October, produce no result.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY c. WAYNE,
4.s BIS Major U. s. Army
Hon JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary of War.
The Senatorial Caucus-Thcrc was a eau.
Gus Of the Democrats Of the Senate held this
morning, to receive the report of their COM
mittee to nominate the Democratic portions Of
the several COMMITTEES to be voted for by
them in open Senate. The said report having
been rendered, was laid on the table for the
examination Of members Of the caucus. It
places nearly all tho CID Senators just where
they were during the last session, e1copt in
cases wherein Senators had requested not to
be reinstated in their old places on commit
tees. Thus Mr.. slidell is proposed to be sub
stituted in Mr.. Brodhead's late place on the
naval committee at the request of Mr.. B., and
we hear, with the acquicscence of Mr. S. Mr..
James, too, is named for that committee lin
the report) in the place of Mr. Gwin, now out
Of the Senate.
lhe Weather-seems q little too warm TO
permit the putty of Mr.. Gre eley and his spinal
disease doctors to stick where they chinked UP
weak back-bones with it yesterday and last
night; and also too cold to permit the grease,
with which they oiled the heels of those whom
1t was proposed to get out of the Hall at q
convenient time this morning to perform its
iucubration as was desired. At least such is
the opinion that we drew from the thirty.
fourth ballot, the first held to-day.
- The best laid schemes OF men and mice &c,
The Senate Printing AT the next Sena.
torial caucus printer for the Senate will DO
nominated, we hear.
Resigned John Wilson. ESQ has resigned
the position of President Of the Second Ward
Know Nothing Lodge of this city.
The Current Operations of the Treasury De-
partmont.-On Saturday, Sth of December,
there were Of Treasury Warrants entered on
the books of the Department
For tho redemption of stocks.... sI9, 23s OF
Eof mo treasury Department. 1889 50
1of me dnser9r DeParsu.snt..... 2,299 66
ir or1tons' '''''.:'........ H. 1873 06
war warrants received and en-
, terod ...:.................. $500 90
rom miscellaneous sources. 175 81
FROM customs. .'................ 3,405 90
0n account OF the Navy........ 100. 422 81
Repayment on account Of the