Old Douglas, The Confederate Camel That Joined The 43rd Mississippi Infantry During The Civil War
The greatest conflict during American history included some remarkable animals
The American Civil War was a bloody and lengthy affair, fracturing the United States and throwing the country into upheaval that has arguably persisted in some forms until the present. However, that doesn’t mean that there weren’t occasional quirky and unusual moments. Certainly one that would qualify was Old Douglas, a camel that became a beloved and valuable member of the 43rd Mississippi Infantry during the War Between the States.
No war on American soil has been more deadly than the Civil War, which counted approximately 620,000 deaths (and possibly many more) during the five years (1861–1865) of the conflict.
Both sides took soldiers and resources where they could be found. Desperate to maintain the upper hand, it was counterproductive to be picky if something or someone could be put to good use. That’s the spirit that allowed an exotic animal, foreign to American shores, serve an important role
Old Douglas was a dromedary camel, who was part of a shipment of fellow humpbacks imported to the United States in the 1850s. This was the result of the U.S. Army Camel Corps…
