The Washington times., 1901-12-15
SHIP OF THE DESERT
DOING ARMY SERVICE
Uncle Sans Experiment With AZ.
rican and Asiatic Camels.
LIEUT.. BEALE'S ODD MISSION
Sent 10 tue Old World by Jefferson
Davis to Buy Herd of Drome-
daries-ScvcrnI Hundred Imported.
but Nearly All Extinct Now.

The story of the camel in the service Of
the United States Army is a strange
comedy in the annals of the War Depart
ment. The story opens in 1852, during the
famous gold fever in California. At that
time Lieut.. Edward f. Beale, afterward
General Beale. was stationed at Fort
Yuma. on the border between California
and Arizona. al the edge Of the Colorado
desert. procession of emigrant wagons
passed across the liieless plains daily,
leaving behind them train Of carcasses
whose bleached bones marked the trail
for years afterward.
The hardsh.ps encour tered during that
fearful juorney, hardships which horses
and mules were untitled to withstand
convinced Lieutenant Beale that here, of
all places, the camels OF Sahara and Ara
bia could be used TO iLestimable advan-
tage. In connection with Captain Adams,
who commanded the garrison, he wrote to
Jefferson Devils, then Secretary of War. on
the subject Of the adyisability of employ
ing the camel for army transportation in
the Colorado region. Secretary Davis en-
tered thoroughly into the scheme, and
commission was soon sent out from San
Antonio. Tex. to investigate the matter.
Money 10 Buy Cameis.
The report of the commission was ia
vorable and in his report to Congress in
December, 1852. Secretary Davis so strong
ly recommended the plan that an appro-
priation was Immediately made for the
the use of the army John NJ. Mason. of
subsequent Mason and Slidell fame, cham
pioned the proposition TO buy the beasts
of burden and on March 3, 1853, a bill ap-
propriating $4,000 for this purpose was
signed by the President Major Henry c.
Wayne was then sent to Egypt and Arabia
in December. 1854, with instructions to
purchase seventy-fve Camels. Major
Wayne was instructed to proceed TO the
large cities of the European continent and
there learn from military sources all
that had been accomplished by the camel
in other campaigns together with facts
as to diet, habits and conduct under fire.
Secretary Davis instructions to Major
Wayne are today probably the most hu-
War Department. The camel is described
by him with all the detail and fondness
Of a naturalist and the envoy is told that
while good camels may be had at Pal
myra, Damascus wss once famed for its
dromedaries and some may be had there
Further on the major is told that Kin
distan still possesses animals OF fine
I'll
to Lieut.. (afterward AdmraD d. d. Por-
ter. commanding the Supply. TO follow
Major Wayne through the Mediterranean
and to disembark a land force at Beirut
30 that the expedition might be amply
protected from attacks.
importance of the Mission.
Major Wayne's mission was regarded
with great seriousness by the Government
officials and upon arriving in London the
envoy was received by Minister James
Buchanan. who reported later that he
perceived the importance Of the mis-
sion" Official reports then began to reach
the War Department from all parts Of
Europe each document containing punches |
OF information as 10 the camel From
Paris came formidable French report
written by General Daumas. who desired I
to air his knowledge OF ''le chameau
The guest Of the camel proceeded mer- |
rily and word came that Major Wayne |
and Lieutenant Porter had Joined forces, I
and TO show that they were as much in
earnest as ever had bought single ami
NAL at Tunis FOR the purpose Of studying
its habits. Moreover. the Bey OF Tunis /
presented them with two half-grown
dromedaries. One OF these, an official re-
port states, was found unwieldy" and
was left behind at Constantinople The
camel question was then taken up by the
Cabinet OF the Khedive or Egypt and
many columns Of information made their
way TO the army officials through the
State Department.
1t was stated officially that the laws Of
Egypt forbade that camels shoul5 be sold, I
but out OF love for the United States. I.
Major Wayne would be permitted to buy I
two animals at Alexandria Later. a 4
member OF the Pashas Cabinet GOV, ting /
gun on board the supply. an arrange /
ment was made between the Wa and |
State Department whereby the gun went |
to the official in exchange for six drome- |
daries from his stables.
Treatise on CamcioIoEy.
At Smyrna thirty-three camels were re-
ceived from the interior the prices rang
ing from SIS to $1,000 In his trips Major
Wayne received a large amount OF data
on the noble quadruped. all Of which was
duly set forth in Official reports This
was later Incorporated in the report Of |
the Secretary OF War and was doubtless
eagerly read by the Senate. It stands to-
day as the most exhaustive treatise on |
camelology TO be had anywhere.
At last the required number Of camels
were secured, together with three arr bs
who were to care for the animals To- a
year. The return voyage cost but three
dromedaries and the expedition reached
Indianoll. Tex. on February 10. 1856. The
whole drove was then taken IN charge by
Capt. J. n. Palmer. U. s. A.. and brought
10 Camp Verde, Tex, where they remained
for several years. together vita a load
OF forty-one other camels brought in by
the Suwanee. When the lot had been got
into good shape they were moved to the
interior. covering overland distances of
forty and fifty miles daily. carrying army
stores to the weight Of from 1000 to 1,5OO
pounds each.
American Fodder Rejected.
Despite the learned treatise, the third
on the subject. which was again forward
ed to Congress by the Secretary of War,
the camels would DOT eat what had been
prepared for them and porsisted In dam