154 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 



your letter of the 5th instant, in reply to my report of the 19th ultimo^ 

 and to express my gratification at finding your views in respect to 

 recruiting the animals after their sea voyage coincident with my own. 

 Their improvement during their short rest here has been very marked. 

 Again requesting to be fully informed of your views in relation to 

 the permanent disposition of the camels, that I may conform to them 

 in my arrangements and management, I am, with much respect, 

 your obedient servant, 



HENRY C. WAYNE, 



Major U. S. Army. 

 Hon. Jefferson Davis, 



Secretary of War, Washington City. 



San Antonio, August 4, 1856. 

 Sir : It is with regret that I have again to report the death of one 

 of the camels, one of the female dromedaries presented by the viceroy 

 of Egypt. At daybreak this morning she was found lying dead in 

 her place. Yesterday, and up to the time of her being put up for the 

 night, she seemed well and lively. On the day before (Saturday) I 

 pointed her out especially to two gentlemen as one of the most 

 thriving, and she fully sustained then, by her appearance and liveli- 

 ness, the hopes I expressed in regard to her. 



There being no one at hand competent to make a scientific exami- 

 nation of the body, I am unable to state the probable cause of death. 

 There are no external causes apparent to account for it, and an 

 autopsy by Mr. Ray developed no internal derangement or injury. 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



HENRY C. WAYNE, 



Major U. S. Army. 

 Hon. Jefferson Davis, 



Secretary of War, Washington City, D. G. 



San Antonio, August 12, 1856. 



My Dear Sir : I have the honor to enclose herewith a pair of socks 

 knit for the President by Mrs. Mary A. Shirkey, of Victoria, Texas, 

 (lately of Virginia,) from the pile of one of our camels. 



In her letter to me accompanying the socks, Mrs. Shirkey says : "I 

 have been much longer preparing the socks than I thought I should 

 be when you left my house. I knit one, and found it too coarse. I 

 then spun some finer, and knit the pair I have sent you. If I had 

 the machinery, I could have made you a better specimen of what the 

 camel's wool could do in Texas. I have spun the first thread and 

 made the first article of clothing out of the wool in this country. I 

 think if it was carded in the factory it would do much better ; all the 

 long hair would drop out from the fine wool." 



