Old Douglas is a Confederate camel buried in Mississippi, which would seem to most people to be an unlikely place in which a domesticated dromedary camel is buried — but he is there; and you can visit his grave.
A Confederate Camel. Buried in Mississippi.
At the intersection of Mission 66 and Skyfarm Avenue in Vicksburg is historic Cedar Hill Cemetery, which is one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in the United States that is still in use today.
I did not realize how large was the cemetery; so I did not research as to where the grave of Douglas the Camel was located — but he was found within minutes.
Douglas not only has an engraved grave stone at his burial site; but he also has a special marker that was created just for him that facilitated in finding his grave easily.
On the front are the words:
“DOUGLAS”
“OLD DOUGLAS” WAS THE “FAITHFUL, PATIENT” CAMEL OF THE 43RD MS INFANTRY VOLS. CSA. DOUGLAS WAS A DROMEDARY CAMEL, AND WAS GIVEN TO COL. W.H. MOORE BY LT. WH. HARGROVE OF CO. B. MOORE ASSIGNED DOUGLAS
The text continues on the back.
TO THE BAND. DOUGLAS AT FIRST FRIGHTENED ALL THE 43RD’S HORSES, BUT SOON BECAME A FAVORITE OF BOTH BEASTS AND MEN. THE 43RD WAS HENCEFORTH CALLED “THE CAMEL REGIMENT.” DOUGLAS SERVED IN THE IUKA, CORINTH, CENTRAL MS RR, AND VICKS CAMPAIGNS. INTENTIONALLY KILLED BY YANKEE SHARPSHOOTERS NEAR THE END OF THE SIEGE, HE MAY HAVE BEEN EATEN BY THE STARVING CONFEDERATES. DOUGLAS’ DEATH WAS GREATLY MOURNED AND, AS A 43RD VET WROTE ABOUT HIM, “HIS SERVICE MERITS RECORD.”
Final Boarding Call
Give yourself at least ten minutes to see the grave site of Douglas the Camel. You can also leave a coin on the stone marking his grave, if you like.
Although other entrances are available, the main entrance to historic Cedar Hill Cemetery is located at the intersection of Mission 66 and Skyfarm Avenue in Vicksburg in Mississippi. Simply drive north past the entrance on Lovers Lane and turn right onto Cotton Street. Drive to Lindsey Street and turn right. Just after turning right onto Lindsey Street, the grave of Douglas the Camel will be on the left.
If you drive to Yerger Street, you have just passed the grave.
The gates to Cedar Hill Cemetery open daily at 7:00 in the morning and close at dusk. No admission is charged to visitors; and no facilities are available. No parking lot is available at the grave site; but parking near the grave should not be an issue.
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
