Union Army camel in San Pedro photo
Apparently there's been a long debate regarding the 19th century use of camels by the U.S. Army. Well a photo of what appears to be an Union Army camel recently sold on Ebay for $4,569.63, which isn't a bad price for an old camel photo, in my book. But here's the cool part - the camel was apparently stationed at the Quartermaster's Depot in little ole' San Pedro (I'm not sure if this is actually in what is now Wilmington or not - feel free to educate me), in either 1863 or 65, depending on which of the multiple prints of this photo is correct. The full story is over at L.A. Observed and the debate/story about the photo's origins is over at L.A. Cowboy.
UPDATE!
The Breeze has a much more detailed story, filling in the details on who bought the photo. Looks like it was bought by Drum Barracks Civil War Museum Director Susan Ogle, and will be part of the collection here in the harbor area. Also, the location of the photo was at the Drum Barracks in Wilmington, not the Quartermaster's Depot. Not quite Pedro, but definitely harbor area. Way to go Susan!
UPDATE!
The Breeze has a much more detailed story, filling in the details on who bought the photo. Looks like it was bought by Drum Barracks Civil War Museum Director Susan Ogle, and will be part of the collection here in the harbor area. Also, the location of the photo was at the Drum Barracks in Wilmington, not the Quartermaster's Depot. Not quite Pedro, but definitely harbor area. Way to go Susan!
4 Comments:
I suppose I'll take the experts word for it, but that "camel" in an un-enhanced state, could be a horse or a malnourished peninsula buffalo, or even a lumpy civil war half-man, half-ape (those slack jawed-gawkers to the right of the picture would suggest it's something weird). I really can't be sure because it's just two legs sticking out of a dark blob.
Interesting that the civil war was a very photographed event, yet there are no close-up pictures of the top-secret experimental Army camels.
Well, it's not like you could cup a digi-cam in your palm and take covert pictures in those days.
It's almost hard to imagine how different the thought process of a photographer in 1863 would be from today. The amount of work and cost that would go into taking any photograph is so different, and the outlets for publication so limited.
MJP - we're not supposed to talk about the Point Fermin Tunnel Ape. Remember what the guys in the black suits said?
Well, it's not like you could cup a digi-cam in your palm and take covert pictures in those days.
No, you sure couldn't. Just strikes me as odd that there is only one photograph of something that must have been incredibly novel and weird at the time. And I'm sure it is what they say it is, but it's unfortunate that you can make out everything in the photo but the camel. Anyway, not suggesting it's fake or a conspiracy or anything. Just odd.
...we're not supposed to talk about the Point Fermin Tunnel Ape.
The hell with that! I won't be silenced!
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