PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 149 



JunelG. LeftcampatS^a.ra. ; cametotheCiboloat 10:^ a. m.; halted 

 until 11 a. m.; camped at the Sulphur Springs at 12| p. m., sixteen 

 miles. At 1| p. m. one of the female camels, not purchased or marked 

 as pregnant, nor exhibiting the least evidences of being in that condi- 

 tion, gave birth to a female calf, a maya, full sized but weakly. The 

 calf never held up its head, but, breathing with difficulty, lingered 

 until the next morning at 5 a. m., when it died. Upon examining 

 the body the glands of the throat were found swollen to about three 

 and a half to four inches in length by about two inches in diameter, 

 pressing upon and closing the air passage ; lungs a good deal 

 conjested. 



June lY. Left camp at 6^ a. m. and arrived at Grayson's at 1 p. m., 

 seventeen miles. Camped. At 3 p. m., leaving the caravan in charge 

 of my clerk and overseer, Mr. Ray, 1 rode into San Antonio (twelve 

 miles) to make such arrangements as might be necessary. On arrival, 

 found that Colonel Myers had selected a camping place at the head- 

 waters of the San Pedro, about two miles from town, furnishing good 

 grass and water. The ground is owned by the corporation of San 

 Antonio, and, by permission, is occupied free of any charge. 



June 18. The camels were brought in by Mr. Ray at 11| a. m. and 

 taken out to camp. 



I have everything now arranged, and shall remain here, where the 

 animals can have good grass and water, until I receive instructions as 

 to their destination. 



I moved slowly^ both on account of their recent sea trip, and for 

 the little ones that were unable to march long. My object was to 

 bring the animals safely to this place, and not to show what they could 

 do as carriers and travellers. The Bactrians I thought of making 

 useful in a wagon, after the Tartar fashion, but I abandoned the idea 

 for the march, as being too severe upon them so soon after their disem- 

 barkation. I tried them, however, for a short distance, and found 

 that they travelled well together ; so well that I am induced to think 

 they have been harnessed up before. The weather was exceedingly 

 hot and the roads dusty, unusually so, I am told ; yet the animals 

 travelled without suffering, and are in good condition. After accli- 

 mation, I think they will be capable of rendering good service. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



HENRY C. WAYNE, 



Major United States Army. 



Hon. Jefferson Davis, 



Secretary of War, Washington City. 



' [Extract.] 



San Antonio, Texas, 



June 20, 1856. 



G-eneral: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt yesterday 

 of your letter of the 3d instant, addressed to me at Indianola, request- 



