152 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 



''The establishment of a breeding farm did not enter into the plans 

 of the department. The object at present is to ascertain whether the 

 animal is adapted to the military service, and can be economically and 

 usefully employed therein. When this is satisfactorily established, 

 arrangements can be made for importing or breeding camels to any 

 extent that may be deemed desirable." 



I am, sir, &c., 



TH. S. JESUP, 

 Quartermaster General. 

 Major H. C. Wayne, 



Assistant Quartermaster U. S. Army, 



San Antonio, Texas. 



Quartermaster General's Office, 



Washington City, July 30, 1856. 

 Sir : The Secretary of War has referred to this office your letter of 

 the 21st instant, covering propositions for furnishing accommodations 

 for camels and quarters for the men attending them. You will adopt 

 such measures in regard to this matter as may, in your judgment, be 

 best for the public interests. 



In regard to the preparation and place for keeping the camels, the 

 first and important point to be determined is their fitness for our mil- 

 itary service, and until this be established it is needless to inquire 

 whether they may be bred in the United States, 



I am, sir, &c., 



TH.S.. JESUP, 

 Quartermaster Gerieral. 

 Major H. C. Wayne, 



Assistant Quartermaster, San Antonio, Texas. 



San Antonio, July 22, 1856. 



Sir : It is with regret that I report the death of one of our best 

 female camels from Smyrna. Through the neglect of the Arabs herd- 

 ing the females, this one strayed, and when hunted up was found 

 about two miles off lying upon its side and evidently very ill. It was 

 brought into camp carefully under the personal superintendence of 

 Mr. Ray, and there, after lingering several hours, died. Its disease 

 was supposed to be inflammation of the bowels, but after death an 

 examination was made by Dr. A. Z. Herman, M. D., a physician 

 living in the neighborhood, who discovered that the animal had been 

 killed by one or more heavy blows. The Doctor's statement to me 

 is, that the animal's death was occasioned by a heavy blow or blows 

 inflicted on the neck of the animal, fracturing the clavicles in several 

 places, and one dorsal and one side rib. The spiculte of bone were 



