Subdeacon Joe Posted March 4 Posted March 4 While the U.S. Camel Corps was officially birthed by an act of Congress on March 3, 1855, its legacy is deeply woven into the rugged geography of California history. The $30,000 appropriation signed by President Franklin Pierce was intended to solve the "Great American Desert" problem the impassable stretch of land between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Coast. For California, which had achieved statehood just five years prior, the experiment represented a desperate hope for a dependable "land bridge" that could connect the booming ports of San Francisco and Los Angeles to the rest of the nation. The California chapter of this history began in earnest in 1857, when Edward Fitzgerald Beale, a legendary figure in California’s development, led a caravan of 25 camels from Texas to the Colorado River. Upon reaching the California border, the camels didn't just survive; they thrived, easily swimming across the river and trekking through the Mojave Desert with loads that would have broken a mule. Beale was so enamored with the beasts that he brought them to his vast estate at Rancho El Tejon (near modern-day Lebec and Bakersfield). For several years, the sight of dromedaries grazing alongside California cattle became a symbol of the state's eccentric and experimental frontier spirit. The camels soon became integral to the defense and mapping of the state. Based at Fort Tejon, the Camel Corps was used to scout routes through the Sierra Nevada and across the high deserts, providing a vital link between the military outposts of the South and the burgeoning settlements of the North. In 1860, the camels were even used to establish a fast-paced express mail service between San Pedro and the desert interior. During this time, California’s newspapers were filled with stories of the "ships of the desert," and the camels became a fixture of local lore, proving that the state’s difficult terrain was no match for the right biological technology. However, the onset of the Civil War and the rise of the transcontinental railroad eventually turned the Camel Corps into a historical footnote. By 1863, the military decided to abandon the experiment, and the remaining California herd was moved to the Benicia Arsenal north of San Francisco. On February 26, 1864, the government held a public auction in Benicia, selling the camels to local ranchers, circus performers, and even mining companies. Some of these camels remained in the state for years, used to haul salt in the Owens Valley or appear in local parades, while others were turned loose, leading to "ghost camel" sightings in the California desert as late as the early 20th century. Today, the March 3 anniversary serves as a reminder of California’s role as a laboratory for American expansion. The experiment is memorialized at Fort Tejon State Historic Park, where historical markers and reenactments keep the memory of the "Camel Express" alive. It remains a uniquely Californian story one that blends military strategy, immigrant camel drivers like Hi Jolly, and the sheer vastness of the Golden State’s wilderness into a narrative of bold, if eventually abandoned, innovation. 4 Quote
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted March 4 Posted March 4 The movie "Hawmps" was based on this. Funny movie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawmps! 1 2 Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Damn! You beat me to it. Jack Elam should have received some kind of award for his role. 4 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted March 4 Posted March 4 BTW, there was an Australian Camel Corps WWI era. https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/bumpy-history-imperial-camel-corps-wwi 1 2 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Just now, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: Damn! You beat me to it. Jack Elam should have received some kind of award for his role. Elam was memorable in every role I can recall. An All Pro. 3 Quote
Buckshot Bear Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Australia is home to the world's largest population of feral camels, estimated to be over 1 million. 3 3 Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted March 4 Posted March 4 If you watch the movie check his personal armament. I laughed so hard my wife was afraid she'd be a widow any second. 2 2 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted March 4 Posted March 4 2 minutes ago, Buckshot Bear said: Australia is home to the world's largest population of feral camels, estimated to be over 1 million. I thought you still had some in the wild - no clue it was that many! Amazed by AUS yet again! 2 Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted March 4 Posted March 4 2 minutes ago, Buckshot Bear said: Australia is home to the world's largest population of feral camels, estimated to be over 1 million. I'd be surprised if you folks can't get camel burgers at a MacDonald's somewhere. 3 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted March 5 Posted March 5 Why does this thread bring a Maria Muldaur song to mind... 1 Quote
Buckshot Bear Posted March 5 Posted March 5 8 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said: I thought you still had some in the wild - no clue it was that many! Amazed by AUS yet again! They are a major problem, they are doubling in numbers every 9-10 years. I mate I went to boarding school with in Sydney has one of the largest stations in the Northern Territory, around 17,000 square kilometres from memory and they shoot them in their 1000's every year because of the damage they cause and it doesn't even dent their numbers slightly. 2 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted March 5 Author Posted March 5 21 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: If you watch the movie check his personal armament. I laughed so hard my wife was afraid she'd be a widow any second. What's so funny about it? 3 Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted March 5 Posted March 5 20 minutes ago, Buckshot Bear said: They are a major problem, they are doubling in numbers every 9-10 years. I mate I went to boarding school with in Sydney has one of the largest stations in the Northern Territory, around 17,000 square kilometres from memory and they shoot them in their 1000's every year because of the damage they cause and it doesn't even dent their numbers slightly. Well, for one thing I put that in the wrong part of the message. It should have been about the movie HAWMPS! Mea culpa. 2 Quote
sassnetguy50 Posted March 5 Posted March 5 2 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said: They are a major problem, they are doubling in numbers every 9-10 years. I mate I went to boarding school with in Sydney has one of the largest stations in the Northern Territory, around 17,000 square kilometres from memory and they shoot them in their 1000's every year because of the damage they cause and it doesn't even dent their numbers slightly. What does one do with thousands of dead camels? Quote
Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L Posted March 5 Posted March 5 (edited) Trying to link the movie "Hawmps". “https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8warpc” Copy the link without the quotes ("") and paste into your browser. (It is not the best quality.) Edited March 5 by Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L Quote
Alpo Posted March 5 Posted March 5 1 hour ago, Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L said: It is not the best quality Probably better than buying the DVD off Amazon for $75 Quote
watab kid Posted March 5 Posted March 5 5 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said: They are a major problem, they are doubling in numbers every 9-10 years. I mate I went to boarding school with in Sydney has one of the largest stations in the Northern Territory, around 17,000 square kilometres from memory and they shoot them in their 1000's every year because of the damage they cause and it doesn't even dent their numbers slightly. so you have rabbits , kangaroos and camels ? sounds like every mans hunting to me , if the meats good why not Quote
Buckshot Bear Posted March 5 Posted March 5 4 hours ago, sassnetguy50 said: What does one do with thousands of dead camels? Just left to rot. 1 Quote
Alpo Posted March 5 Posted March 5 Wonder if the leather is any good? "Just left to rot" reminded me of buffalo hunters. They would kill it and strip the hide off and leave the rest of the carcass to rot. Curious as to whether, if you're going to kill it anyhow, it would be worthwhile to strip the hide for leather? Quote
Buckshot Bear Posted March 5 Posted March 5 11 hours ago, Alpo said: Wonder if the leather is any good? "Just left to rot" reminded me of buffalo hunters. They would kill it and strip the hide off and leave the rest of the carcass to rot. Curious as to whether, if you're going to kill it anyhow, it would be worthwhile to strip the hide for leather? Logistics, in the middle of nowhere. 1 Quote
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