United States Congress appropriates funds for the U.S. Camel Corps

Background. The U.S. Camel Corps was a mid-19th-century experiment by the United States Army to use camels as pack animals in the Southwestern United States. Advocates, including those convinced by experiences in the American Indian Wars, encouraged the War Department to utilize camels for transportation. This initiative gained momentum when Secretary of War Jefferson Davis emphasized the anticipated advantages of camels and dromedaries for military purposes in his annual report.

Congressional Appropriation. On March 3, 1855, the United States Congress appropriated $30,000 for the project. This legislative action was based on the recommendations found in the annual report for 1854, where Davis invited attention to the advantages of using camels. The funds were designated for the purchase and importation of camels to be employed for military purposes, as directed by the Secretary of War.