Gary: Thanks for the kind post! Yes, the whole US Camel Corps thing was a very interesting and unusual affair! However, we don't think that "Old Douglas" of the 43rd MS (the Vicksburg camel) was a government camel. We think he was one of the privately imported camels sold as plow animals in the MS-AL area ca. 1860-1861. Thanks, again, for the post! -- Jim Huffman