I have been researching the 43rd MS Infantry for nearly 20 years. Yes, Old Douglas was eaten by the men of the 43rd MS and possibly other men from Hebert's Brigade. 1000 pounds, or so, of camel meat was probably mighty welcome during the Siege of Vicksburg! This story comes down to us solely through family sources via a descendant of one of the men in the 43rd MS. It should also be noted that Douglas was not a US Government camel. He was one of scores (if not hundreds) of privately-imported camels who were "broken to the plow" and used experimentally as farm animals. Many newspaper ads from Alabama from the late 1850's attest to the brief popularity of camels as draft animals! Douglas was owned by the Hargrove family at their plantation in Monroe (or Lowndes) County, MS. Lt. Hargrove made a present of Douglas to Col. Wm. Hudson Moore when Hargrove joined the 43rd MS. Col. Moore, in turn, gave Douglas to the 43rd's band to carry their instruments and kit. Douglas was a well-beloved mascot for the 43rd MS, which came to be called "the Camel Regiment." Please visit his tombstone next time you're in Cedar Rest Confederate Cemetery in Vicksburg! -- Jim Huffman, 43rd MS Infantry