The Mississippi in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Killer of "Old Douglas" of the 43rd Mississipp

Tom:

From “History, 31st Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, Organized by John A. Logan,” p. 77, emailed from the fabulous David Slay, PhD candidate at Texas Christian University and currently a resident of Florence, MS; David has several books in publication:

"After the surrender of Vicksburg, the regiment went into camp on a high hill inside the Confederate lines and to the northwest of Fort Hill, (3rd Louisiana Redan) overlooking the graveyard road. Along this valley road supplies were passed from Vicksburg to Pemberton's left wing during the siege. In this valley our sharp shooters had killed ‘Price's Camel,’ used as a pack animal by the Confederates. His skeleton was picked up and his bones made into finger rings and other ornaments and sold to curiosity hunters from the North. When the supply was exhausted, the bones of cattle slain for beef were substituted, the souvenir fiend being fully satisfied they were part of ‘Price's camel.’"

There are numerous period newspaper accounts from AL regarding camels being privately imported and used as beasts of burden or plow animals. I am one of the people who found and promulgated this research and provided it to Scott Bell for his use in "The Camel Regiment."

Here is but one example.

SOUTHERN BROAD-AXE [WEST POINT, MS], May 11, 1859, p. 2, c. 4
Camels in Dallas County.—We have been informed that it is the intention of Capt. J. A. Machodo who has been engaged for several years in importing camels to the United States, to send a short time, some three or four camels to our countryman, B. M. Woolsey, who has consented to take them, and ascertain practically, if the camel is really adapted to the wants of our section of the country. Mr. Woolsey, we learn, will receive these animals in the course of ten or fifteen days, and will make such experiments with them as will prove their adaptation to our farming pursuits. There are quite a number of gentlemen in our vicinity, who have been anxious to test the uses of the camel, and that this may be done, Capt. Machodo, has consented that Mr. Woolsey may make the test, so in case they prove to be what they are represented, he can furnish any number to our planting friends. We shall endeavor, at any any [sic], to keep our readers posted, as to the result of the experiment.—Selma Sentinel.

-- Jim Huffman, Co-Historian, 43rd MS Infantry

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Killer of "Old Douglas" of the 43rd Mississippi
Re: Killer of "Old Douglas" of the 43rd Mississipp
Re: Killer of "Old Douglas" of the 43rd Mississipp
Re: Killer of "Old Douglas" of the 43rd Mississipp
Re: Killer of "Old Douglas" of the 43rd Mississipp