The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-07
TOM E TIC
From the Washington States, Of april Sd. ]


MR.. B'EALE AND HIS CAMELS.
The following interesting report of operations
was Yesterday received at the War Department from
Mr.: E. F. 13eale:
KANsAF CITY, March %, ls5s.-Sm: 1 have the
honor " report my arrival at this place, after q
success sful and agreeable winter journey over the
road which explored last summer, in obedience to
yor.r orders.
AS informed you in my last Dispatch the object
of this journey to satisfy myself fully to the
practicability impractcability of travelling the
contemplated road in mid winter. With this view,
/ left the TETON Pass, in the Sierra Nevada the
I'd of January, and travelling leisurely, arrived at
Albuquerque the oath of February, having
passed the heart of the winter the more elevated
portion of the road.
From the Colorado river to Sabedras Spring, we
found no snow whatever. From the latter point to
Sitgreayes mountain, we found it occasionally, in
patches, where it sheltered by banks and cedar
trees from the sun. From Sitgreaves mountain to
a small hill lying to the eastward of it, found
snow for the first time so deep as to cover the
ground. This continued for a distance of three
miles, and foot in depth, and sometimes more,
on the level. 1t was the only occasion on which we
found the surface of the earth covered.
Crossing this, which is the highest point over
which the road passes, to the Roux spring, we
gradually descended to the Little Colorado finding
snow only in small patches and that rapidly melt
ing away. On the Little Colorado there was none.
On the 18th of February snow fell, but melted al
most it reached the earth; and although
=
be the succeeding day. Timber was every
where so abundant that our camp blazed every
night with cheerful fires and, although | brought
tents for the of the men, they were never used
on single occasion-the men preferring, as well as
myself, to lie in the open air.
The thermometer, of which observations were
taken at sundown, at four o'clock in the morning,
and at noon, will give you better idea of the eli
mate than any descriptions the coolest night ex-
perienced being on the 5th of February, when the
thermometer stood at lS deg at four O'clock in the
morning. Grass we found as abundant as on our
previous journey, and neither men nor animals suf-
fered in the least from cold during the Journey
homeward.
In a previous letter informed you that had
sent the camels back to Fort TETON from the Colo
RADIO river, in the charge of my clerk, in order that
they might be used in the campaign against U tah
/ parted with these noble brutes with much regret
A year of hard and almost unremitting labor with
them had attached US all to them with feelings
stronger, | think, than any one experiences for
either the horse dog. 1t is to be hoped that the
Government will continue the Importation of this
valuable animal, until sufficient have been obtained
for the use of the whole army. 1t is cheaper at
first cost, lives longer and is infinitely stronger and
harder than the mule, while its capacity for work
is four times greater.
For military purposes, regard it as invaluable
in country where forage is difficult to obtain. In
all of the wars of the East, in ancient days, it
played a conspicuous part; and not only in ancient
but also in modern warfare, its excellence has been
displayed. Sir Charles Napier attributed much of
his success in his brilliant campans of Scnde to the
efficiency of the camel regiment, the organization
of which enabled him to transport his men with
their provisions and arms to great distances, over
what had been hitherto considered an impossible
country. His artillery was dragged by them through
the sandy deserts over which he passed.
quote the following extracts from the biography
of Sir Charles Napier lately published which will
doubtless be read with interest by those interested
in the experiment.
''My plans are fixed to march as far as the desert
for ofarc ha fouo o1. naor apt
five hundred of the strongest Europeans and natives,
mount them on camels, and load all my other cam
els with water, except few to carry half rations.
My camel battery also, shall go, and as many irreg
ular horses it will be prudent to take, and slap
Emaum Calm in the heart of the desert. If it sur
render good; if not it shall have such hammering
shall make the fire fly out Of its eyes.
Twas strange sight, that midnight march-with
the long strides of the camels, with English soldiers
mounted on them calm, impassive and reliant as
they always are, the cames drawing the howit-
zers."
Interference to the preparations for the battle of
Meeanee ''the Scinde horse on the left; behind
are the baggage and baggage guard; the camels are
squatted in circle, with their noses turned in
wards, and the men lying between their necks
With them go the famous
camel corps the organization of which must not be
omitted. Each camel carried two men, one armed
with carbine and sword, the other with musque
toon and bayonet. One man guided the animal, and
fought from its back the other was to act as an in
mems packs, cooking utensils and beds-the latter
forming part of the saddle and thus body of sol
diers, capable of acting infantry when required
having no tents, baggage or commlssarlat to embar
rass them, could make marches of sixty miles In "a
hours over a country which had hitherto been con-
sidered impassable. This body gave
to the solidty of English troops the mobility and
rapidity of Arab cavalry"
At this very time, when the terrible results of
the mutiny of the native troops in India has made
it necessary to forward regiment after regiment
with extraordinary dispatch, we see them sent on
camels, two and four men to the animal, and march
ing day and night. The impression seems to have
taken hold of our people, however, that the camel
is incapable of withstandng the cold of our winter
weather. There is no greater error than this
also. Nature has been bountiful to him beyond al
most any other animal, in clothing him with a
heavy coat of warm hair, through which an Arctic
blast cannot penetrate.
Mr.. Beale here quotes at considerable length
from the sTrayels of Father Hue in Tartary,' to
show that while horses, oxen, and mules, died from
the extreme cold, the camels stood the severe
weather without injury.
But better than the experience of others is that
of our own. The camels are now living, fattening,
and thriving in two feet Ofsnow on the summit OF
the Sierra Nevadas, in California.
1t is now nearly year since | set out on this
journey. have conducted my party from the Gull
of Mexico to the shores of the Pacific, and back
again to the eastern terminus of the road through
a new country, much of which was entirely un-
known and for the most part inhabited by hostile
Indians, without accident of any KIND whatever,
or the loss of a
have obeyed your instructions as faithfully as
was able, under the circumstances, to do and hope
to find my reward in the approval OF the Depart
ment of what has been done.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. F. BEALE.
To the Hon. ]. B. FLOYD, Secyof War.