194 PURCHASE OF CAMELS FOE MILITARY PURPOSES^ 



passed it) on the Ist December, in a hurricane, and in six hours suc- 

 ceeded in getting safely into port, one of the only vessels of the many 

 that wore driven in that met with no loss of sails or spars ; and now 

 the camels are as well and comfortable as if they were in their native 

 land. 



I almost regret having undertaken a winter trip home, though in 

 some respects it is the best time ; but no one ever heard of such 

 weather in the Mediterranean. From the lime we left Naples until 

 we arrived here on our return voyage we were forty-eight days at sea, 

 thirty-seven of which we were struggling against heavy gales ; but I 

 presumed it would gratify you to be able to say that you had intro- 

 duced eighty camels into the country before the close of the adminis- 

 tration, and I hope still that such may be the case. The adverse 

 gales will make some diiference in the time I appointed for getting to 

 New Orleans, and I think it likely that we may not reach there before 

 the 10th of February;, by which time I hope the steamer may be ready 

 to receive the camels. 



This is a beautiful lot of animals that we now have, much larger 

 and finer than the first, and I feel some anxiety in getting every one 

 of them over ; consequently T shall not hurry until there is every 

 prospect of good weather to try and slip out of the Mediterranean ; 

 once in the Atlantic I shall feel quite secure. There will be some 

 additional expense, (for repairs to camel gear, and for the animals' 

 comfort, &c.,) but it will stijl leave a surplus of the amount I brought 

 with me, including Mr. Heap's pay, and all else. 



I am instructed to stop at Tangiers on my way home to take on 

 board the remains of a late consul there, and will leave no effort un- 

 tried to do so, though it will be rather a difficult thing at this season. 

 No ships ever go there in this month. If I am driven through the 

 straits by December gales and easterly weather^, I hope you will make 

 my peace with Mr. Dobbin, for I could not possibly return there (after 

 having been driven into the Atlantic) without detriment to the en- 

 terprise on hand. I shall inform you again, at the first stopping 

 place, how we are getting along, and when .you may likely ex- 

 pect us in New Orleans. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



DAVID D. PORTER. 



Hon. jEPfERSON Davis, 



Secretary of War. 



Indianola, Texas, January 4, 1857. 



Sir: Your letter of the 13th of December last, enclosing a copy of 

 Lieutenant Porter's letter to you, met me at San Antonio, as I was 

 leaving for this place. The copies addressed to me here were received 

 on my arrival last evening, and this morning the steamer brought me 

 from Colonel Tompkins your telegraphic despatch of the 29th ultimo. 



Should the business of the court of inquiry not detain me long, I 



