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| "Old Douglas" grave marker at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, MS. |
Of all the strange and fascinating occurrences that took place during the Civil War, the story of "Old Douglas" has to be one of the oddest. When it comes to the use of animals for military purposes during the Civil War, odds are horses will come to mind, maybe a mule and not much else, especially not a camel. This is what makes the story of Douglas so unique and down right interesting.
"Old Douglas" was used by Company "A" of the Forty-third Mississippi Infantry. For this reason the regiment was commonly referred to as "The camel regiment." Douglas ended up in the service of the Confederacy because of a U.S. War Department program known as the "Texas Camel Experiment" or the U.S. Camel Corps. The program started in 1856 when then Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis saw a need for a possible alternative to the use of horses and mules in the American southwest. The dessert environment of the southwest proved to be taxing on equine species causing significant cases of death and dehydration. Despite some early success the program was canceled with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
It is unclear has to exactly how Douglas came to be the the service of the Forty-third. One theory suggests that Douglas's handler was a native of Mississippi and with the outbreak of war the pair left Texas to serve in the handler's home state. It is believed at some point the camel came into the possession of Lieutenant William Hargrove of Company B. Hargrove later transferred Douglas to Colonel William H. Moore of Company A. Douglas's primary duty with Company A was to carry the regimental band instruments and cooking equipment. Reflecting on Douglas, one officer wrote "Old Douglas was a quiet peaceful fellow and a general favorite."
The first documentation of Douglas puts him with Company B at the Battle of Iuka, near the Tennessee-Mississippi border in September 1862. The report reads, "He stood bravely in the face on Union fire as his friends fell around him." Besides his apparent "braveness" during the heat of battle, Douglas might have been a little bit of a nuisance to some. One at least one occasion he had chewed through his tether and managed to break free. According to the story, the presence of Douglas spooked the horses causing them to panic and break free, pulling up the pickets that they had been tied to and causing a stampede.
It is also believed that Douglas was present at the battles of Corinth and Vicksburg. Douglas meet his end during the Siege of Vicksburg in the summer of 1863 when he was shot by Union sharp shooters. It is rumored that Douglas ended up as a meal for some Union troops and his bones were taken as souvenirs.
Like many legends throughout history Douglas's story may not be quite as valiant as it seems. In an interview with the Virginia Gazette Park Ranger Tim Kavanaugh believes there is a more likely scenario in regards to the last minutes of Douglas's life. Kavanaugh believes that Douglas was most likely kept behind Confederate lines. However in this case Douglas probably broke free from his tether once again and made his way into the middle of the fight, were he would have been easy pickings for the Union sharp shooters. However it is plausible that Douglas was eaten by Federal Troops as rations were in short supply for both sides. In this case Douglas probably fell close to Union lines allowing the Federals to retrieve the camel before the Confederates. Like other wars, many soldiers desired souvenirs from battle. According to Kavanaugh after all of the bones were distributed cow bones were sold to other soldiers who thought they were buying the bones of "Old Douglas."
Today "Old Douglass" is remembered by a grave marker located in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Douglas's memory still lives on with the Texas Camel Corps. Since 1995 the group has aimed to educate the public on the use of camels during the Civil War.
Like many legends throughout history Douglas's story may not be quite as valiant as it seems. In an interview with the Virginia Gazette Park Ranger Tim Kavanaugh believes there is a more likely scenario in regards to the last minutes of Douglas's life. Kavanaugh believes that Douglas was most likely kept behind Confederate lines. However in this case Douglas probably broke free from his tether once again and made his way into the middle of the fight, were he would have been easy pickings for the Union sharp shooters. However it is plausible that Douglas was eaten by Federal Troops as rations were in short supply for both sides. In this case Douglas probably fell close to Union lines allowing the Federals to retrieve the camel before the Confederates. Like other wars, many soldiers desired souvenirs from battle. According to Kavanaugh after all of the bones were distributed cow bones were sold to other soldiers who thought they were buying the bones of "Old Douglas."
Today "Old Douglass" is remembered by a grave marker located in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Douglas's memory still lives on with the Texas Camel Corps. Since 1995 the group has aimed to educate the public on the use of camels during the Civil War.
Sources:
"Civil War History Remembers Old Douglas the Camel," Virginia Gazette, July 17, 2013, http://www.vagazette.com/entertainment/va-vg-ruegsegger-0717-douglas-20130717,0,4507038.story (accessed September 30, 2013)
Johnson, Forrest Bryant. The Last Camel Charge; The Untold Story of America's Desert Military Experiment. New York: Penguin Publishing, 2012.
Johnson, Forrest Bryant. The Last Camel Charge; The Untold Story of America's Desert Military Experiment. New York: Penguin Publishing, 2012.
National Park Service. "Camels and Eagles and Bears... Oh My." http://www.nps.gov/vick/forteachers/ (accessed September 28, 2013)
Tishomingo Historical and Genealogical Society. "Rebel Camel." http://msgw.org/tishomingo/Camel.pdf (accessed September 28, 2013)
