The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930 Page: 20
344 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
There was in Washington at the time a man by the name of
Edward Fitzgerald Beale, then Superintendent of Indian Affairs
in California and Nevada. For years, Beale had served as an army
officer in the Southwest and now became intensely interested in the
whole idea of the camels. When he heard of the congressional
appropriation, he urged his relative, Lieutenant David Dixon
Porter, U. S. N. (who later became famous as Admiral Porter),
to apply for the command of the expedition about to leave for the
Levant.' Porter did as he was urged and was appointed to share
the command jointly with Major Henry C. Wayne. Lieutenant
Porter was to have charge of the store-ship Supply, which was to
convey the animals; Major Wayne was to take care of the business
end of the venture.' Both of these men were admirably fitted for
their tasks.
PART I. TO TEXAS
Major Wayne was to proceed to England and France before
joining Lieutenant Porter in Italy. He was to consult with various
authorities on the subject of camel culture, especially the French
army officers who were connected with similar experiments in
Africa. Wayne sailed for Southampton on the Hermann, May 19,
1855, arriving in London on June 4. There he was received by
members of the Royal Zological Society who escorted him to the
Zoological Garden, wherein five dromedaries had been born and
reared.
The visitor at the Zoological Garden was amazed, first of all,
to learn that the camels were not in the least affected by the most
cold weather and in every way were hardy and healthy. Everyone
whom he met in London told Wayne that there was no reason why
the camel could not be acclimated and bred in the United States.
Furthermore, Wayne learned that a European or American could
manage the animals as well as an Arab.8
'Stephen Bonsal, Edward Fitzgerald Beale, a pioneer in the path of
empire, 1822-1903, New York, 1912, is the standard life of Beale.
'Report of the Secretary of War respecting the purchase of camels for
the purpose of military transportation, 34th Congress, 3d Session, Senate
Ex. Doc., No. 62. Washington, 1857, 13-15. This document, upon which
the remainder of this paper is based, will be hereafter referred to as Report.
'Report, 13, 17-19. Jefferson Davis to Major Wayne, Washington, May
10, 1855; Wayne to Davis, London, June 7, 1855.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930, periodical, 1930; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101090/m1/28/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.