That Time Uncle Sam Brought Camels To West Texas

With Texas being the 2nd largest state in the United States, the U.S. military has a significant military presence in the region.   However, in the 19th century, there was a serious problem of having to transport supplies from one area of Texas to another.

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Camels In Texas

Camels were an ideal choice for transferring goods not only in Texas, but the entirety of the Southwestern United States as well.  Well, at least that was the idea.  This was a time when cars had not been invented and railroads were not as readily available as they are today.  So, using animals seemed practical.

But Why Camels?

Donkeys and horses struggled with the long distances and the Texas heat.  It was only fitting that camels were used since they can carry up to 600 pounds and can go exceedingly long distances without water.

The Rise of the Camel Corp.

In 1856, the first set of camels arrived that were to be used strictly for the purposes of the US Army and the transport of goods.  Initially, the group had brought in 33 camels from places like Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia.  At the group's height, the Camel Corp. had 75 camels altogether.  Essentially, the program was successful and operated for 10 years between 1856 to 1866.

The Fall of the Camel Corp.

While the notion of using camels to transport goods technically worked, the project was eventually scrapped, and the animals were sold at auction.  There are multiple reasons as to why the program was given the axe.  The most dominant reason was the Civil War.  The United States decided to dedicate all funds and resources to the war effort, and unfortunately, the Camel Corp. did not make the cut.