Camels were intentionally brought to Arizona in the mid-19th century by the U.S. Army as part of a military experiment. They were imported to serve as pack animals across the arid terrain of the American Southwest. While no known feral camels roam the Arizona deserts today, their historical presence left a distinct, if often forgotten, mark on the region. This endeavor remains one of the most unusual logistical projects in American military history.
The Genesis of the U.S. Camel Corps
The idea for the U.S. Camel Corps stemmed from the difficulty of supplying military posts across the Southwest after the Mexican-American War. Traditional pack animals like horses and mules struggled with the vast distances, extreme heat, and lack of water. Military leaders realized that the camels’ natural adaptations offered a more efficient desert transport solution.
Major Henry C. Wayne, an Army officer, strongly advocated for the idea, conducting detailed studies recommending their importation. The project gained momentum when Jefferson Davis, a proponent of the concept, was appointed Secretary of War in 1853. Under Davis’s direction, Congress appropriated $30,000 in 1855 to fund the project.
Wayne was tasked with procuring the animals, traveling to the Mediterranean aboard the USS Supply. He stopped in Tunisia, Malta, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt to acquire the best specimens. The first shipment of 34 camels arrived in Indianola, Texas, in May 1856, accompanied by several skilled handlers. A second voyage in early 1857 brought an additional 41 camels, totaling 75 animals for the new corps.
Deployment and Exploration in the American Southwest
The camels were first taken to Camp Verde, Texas, the headquarters for the experiment. Initial field tests quickly proved their superiority over horses and mules. For instance, six camels carrying 3,648 pounds of oats completed a supply trip in two days, while mule-drawn wagons carrying less weight took nearly five days.
In 1857, the camels were deployed for a major field trial during a government surveying effort. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, a former Navy lieutenant, was tasked with surveying a wagon road from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to California, taking 25 camels as pack animals. The expedition traveled across what is now Arizona, following the 35th parallel, a route later used by the Santa Fe Railroad and Interstate 40.
The animals demonstrated remarkable endurance, easily carrying loads of 600 pounds or more. They could travel 30 to 40 miles per day and go eight to ten days without water, a capability invaluable in the harsh, arid conditions. The project relied on foreign handlers, such as Arabs and Turks, who possessed the necessary expertise, since American soldiers and mule drivers lacked experience with the unfamiliar creatures.
The Fate and Enduring Legacy of the Arizona Camels
The Civil War in 1861 abruptly ended the military’s interest in the camel experiment, shifting government priorities and funding. The post at Camp Verde fell to Confederate forces, and the camels were neglected. Following the war, the U.S. government officially abandoned the project and sold the remaining camels at public auction. Many were purchased by circuses, zoos, or private individuals for mining and freighting operations.
Many camels were eventually turned loose into the desert when their new owners could not manage them or when private operations failed. These animals formed small, feral herds that roamed the deserts of Arizona, California, and New Mexico for decades. Numerous sightings were reported into the early 1900s, with the last confirmed sighting occurring in 1941.
The most enduring cultural legacy involves Hadji Ali, a Syrian handler known as “Hi Jolly.” After the military sale, Hi Jolly purchased several camels and used them for private freighting in Arizona before setting them free. When he died in 1902, he was buried in Quartzsite, Arizona, where a pyramid-shaped monument topped with a metal camel silhouette was erected in his honor. This memorial serves as a reminder of this unique history.