The Grave Of Douglas The Confederate Camel Has Got To Be One Of Mississippi's Most Peculiar Burial Sites
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published April 16, 2020
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
We’ve got lots of Civil War history here in Mississippi – but did you know a camel is part of that history? It’s true. A camel named Douglas served on the Confederate Army. Sadly, he was killed during the siege of Vicksburg. And though it’s been decades since his death, Douglas’ memory lives on thanks to an informative headstone at the Cedar Hill Cemetery. Take a look:
Among the estimated 5,000 Confederate graves that fill the Soldier’s Rest section of Vicksburg’s Cedar Hill Cemetery is one that’s sure to stand out – and that’s because it belongs to a camel.
Douglas the Confederate Camel, or Old Douglas as he was sometimes called, was part of the 43rd Mississippi Infantry, Company A, which was (fittingly) nicknamed The Camel Regiment.
The headstone that marks Old Douglas’ grave contains a good bit of information about the 4-legged soldier, including the fact that he participated in the Battles of Iuka and Corinth before being killed during the siege of Vicksburg.
Apparently, it was Douglas’ proclivity to roam that likely led to his death. Prior to the siege of Vicksburg, there had been several instances when Douglas broke free of his tether and wandered off to graze. On June 27th, 1863, the camel wandered into enemy territory and paid with his life.
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The grave marker also says that Douglas’ remains were eaten by his starving comrades; however, legend tells a different story.
According to local lore, the Union soldiers ate the camel’s corpse and made souvenirs out of his bones. It’s also said that the Confederate soldiers exacted revenge by severely wounding the sharpshooter responsible for Douglas’ death.
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Interestingly enough, Douglas wasn’t the only camel to serve in the Civil War.
The camels that survived the war were sold in auctions between 1864 and 1866. A majority of the camels were sold to circuses, while others were used in a variety of industries, from mining to postal delivery. Some camels were even set free, and as a result, feral camels were once somewhat of a common sight in the southwest region of the U.S.
An informative headstone isn't the only way Douglas is commemorated, though.
For more information on the grave of Douglas the Confederate Camel, check out the Visit Vicksburg website. To learn more about the Cedar Hill Cemetery, visit the National Park Service website.
Did you know about Douglas the Camel? Have you visited Cedar Hill Cemetery? If so, did you see Douglas’ headstone? Tell us in the comments section.
This isn’t the state’s only peculiar gravesite. Read about another here.
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