CHANCE FOR SUMMER CAMPS TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. "HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A CAMEL IN REAL LIFE?" TAYLOR: NO MAM! ITS A FIRST FOR TAYLOR STAMPS - A CAMP COUNSELOR AT THE YMCA IN VICKSBURG - A REAL LIFE CAMEL "WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU FIRST SAW IT?" TAYLOR: I WAS SCARED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS WALKING INTO, THEY'RE BIG." BUT BEHIND THE BIG ANIMAL IS AN INCREDIBLE STORY FROM THE CIVIL WAR - INCLUDING THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS AND ANIMALS DIED, INCLUDING ONLY ONE CAMEL DOUGLAS BAUM / OWNS CAMEL " IT'S A REALLY CURIOUS STORY HE'S THE MASCOT ANIMAL OF THE 43RD MISSISSIPPI INFANTRY. AND HIS JOB WAS TO CARRY THE REGIMENTAL BAND INSTRUMENTS. HE WAS A ROADIE." THIS WEEKEND, DOUGLAS BAUM MADE A STOP IN THE RIVER CITY WITH HIS FAMILIES CAMELS FROM TEXAS. BAUM MAKES IT HIS MISSION TO USE THE ANIMALS TO TEACH KIDS HISTORY. " HISTORY IS A TOUGH SELL RIGHT BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY OUR PHONES AND TABLETS IN OUR ATTENTION SPAN BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I SHOW UP WITH A CAMEL THOSE KIDS STOP THEY PAY ATTENTION AND DON'T TELL THEM THEY MIGHT EVEN LEARN A LITTLE HISTORY." AND THE MISSION MAY HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED NIA MCDANIEL / YMCA CAMP ATTENDEE "IT WAS KIND OF WEIRD BECAUSE I NEVER GOT TO BRING OUT A CAMEL BEFORE SO I WAS KIND OF NERVOUS AT FIRST." DOUGLAS THE CAMEL - THE CONFEDERATE MASCOT WAS PLAYED BY BAUM'S TWO CAMELS 12 YEAR OLD JADID AND HIS UNDERSTUDY 15 MONTH OLD SAUBR. VANESSA JONES / YMCA CAMP DIRECTOR " I NEVER HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE AS FAR AS A CAMEL BEING A PART OF THE CIVIL WAR SO IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING TRIP." INTERESTING AND DAUNTING FOR MANY COMING FACE TO FACE WITH A CAMEL FOR THE FIRST TIME TAYLOR STAMPS / CAMP COUNSELOR " BUT I JUST WENT TO FEED THE CAMEL HE WAS IN MY FACE SO I WAS VERY NERVOUS I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BITE ME BUT HE WAS VERY NICE. I JUS
Did you know camels served during the Civil War?
‘Old Douglas’ teaches history in Vicksburg
Updated: 1:17 PM CDT Jul 5, 2024
Horses weren’t the only animals that served during the Civil War. There were also camels, including one that is honored in Vicksburg to this day. Douglas Baum was back in the River City on Friday with his family’s camels to tell the story of “Old Douglas,” the only camel to die in action during the Civil War. July 4 marked the final day of the Siege of Vicksburg, where tens of thousands of soldiers died, along with thousands of animals, including Douglas.The United States Camel Corps was active from 1856 to 1866. In 1861, Confederate troops commandeered 40 camels, including “Old Douglas,” from Camp Verde. Old Douglas became the mascot of the 43rd Mississippi Infantry. His job was to carry the infantry’s regimental band. “We tell the story here at Vicksburg National Military Park to get, particularly, young folks interested in history,” Baum said. “History is a tough sell because technology, our phones and tablets and our attention spans. But I can tell you when I show up with a camel, those kids stop, they pay attention. And don’t tell them, they might even learn a little history.”Douglas is portrayed by 12-year-old Jadid and his understudy, 15-month-old Saubr. The two will be back at the national park in Vicksburg at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
VICKSBURG, Miss. — Horses weren’t the only animals that served during the Civil War. There were also camels, including one that is honored in Vicksburg to this day.
Douglas Baum was back in the River City on Friday with his family’s camels to tell the story of “Old Douglas,” the only camel to die in action during the Civil War. July 4 marked the final day of the Siege of Vicksburg, where tens of thousands of soldiers died, along with thousands of animals, including Douglas.
The United States Camel Corps was active from 1856 to 1866. In 1861, Confederate troops commandeered 40 camels, including “Old Douglas,” from Camp Verde. Old Douglas became the mascot of the 43rd Mississippi Infantry. His job was to carry the infantry’s regimental band.
“We tell the story here at Vicksburg National Military Park to get, particularly, young folks interested in history,” Baum said. “History is a tough sell because technology, our phones and tablets and our attention spans. But I can tell you when I show up with a camel, those kids stop, they pay attention. And don’t tell them, they might even learn a little history.”
Douglas is portrayed by 12-year-old Jadid and his understudy, 15-month-old Saubr. The two will be back at the national park in Vicksburg at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
