**Ridiculous History Podcast Episode Summary
Title: The US Camel Corps, Part Two: The Legend of the Red Ghost
Release Date: March 6, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts

Introduction and Recap

The episode opens with hosts Ben Born and Noel Brown welcoming returning guest Jonathan Strickland. They briefly banter and set the stage for Part Two of their exploration into the US Camel Corps—a 19th-century military experiment aimed at utilizing camels for transportation in the American deserts.

The US Camel Corps Experiment

Ben Born (00:00) introduces the topic by recapping Part One, where the United States faced logistical challenges in transporting supplies across vast, arid regions. Conventional pack animals like horses and mules struggled in the harsh desert environment, prompting military enthusiasts to propose the unconventional solution of importing camels.

Jonathan Strickland (03:05):
"They just have to accept reality and move forward sometimes is the only way you can get through life."
(05:25)

The initiative gained traction due to camels' superior adaptability to desert climates—they require less water and can traverse sandy terrains more efficiently than traditional pack animals. Major Wayne and David Dixon Porter were instrumental in retrofitting a ship to transport these dromedaries to the United States, successfully bringing 34 camels after accounting for births and deaths during the voyage.

Challenges and Issues Faced

Upon arrival, Major Wayne (08:17) stationed the camels at Camp Verde in Fort Wayne, Texas. The hosts humorously liken this segment to the second act of a heist movie, introducing both humor and the initial problems of integrating camels into military operations.

Ben Born (12:00):
"They might spit up on them. You know, I could see how they..."
(12:08)

The camels presented several challenges:

• Behavioral Issues: Camels were described as having "terrible attitudes," often spitting, biting, and kicking soldiers. Their unpredictable nature made them unsuitable for combat roles, leading to numerous frustrations among the troops.
• Logistical Problems: Unlike horses and mules, camels couldn't easily handle traditional military tasks like holding card games or working seamlessly with existing cavalry units (14:11).
• Training Difficulties: Attempts to train camels with harsh methods backfired, as these animals did not respond well to strict training, further exacerbating relations with the soldiers.

Noel Brown (15:45):
"Can you imagine being spit on, bitten, and then pooped and peed on?"
(16:04)

Despite their potential as pack animals, camels were deemed unsuitable for active warfare, leading to a reevaluation of their roles within the military.

Political Intrigue and the Mule Lobby

As the Civil War loomed, the Camel Corps faced political opposition. Ben Born (32:16) reveals a "corporopolitical conspiracy" orchestrated by the powerful mule lobby, an influential trade organization vested in promoting mules over camels to protect their economic interests.

Jonathan Strickland (32:49):
"We all know that asses carry a lot of power."
(32:55)

The mule lobby successfully undermined the Camel Corps initiative by lobbying against further camel imports, ensuring that mules and horses remained the primary pack animals in the military. This political maneuvering, combined with the onset of the Civil War, led to the decline of the Camel Corps.

The Civil War's Impact on the Camel Corps

With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the Camel Corps' strategic value diminished. Camels stationed at Camp Verde were captured by Confederate forces early in the conflict, leading to the fragmentation of the corps.

Ben Born (34:00):
"The U.S. civil War started in 1861 in earnest, like you said, and it goes until 1865. It was a real bummer."
(34:11)

Both the Union and Confederate armies held fragmented camel units, which ultimately played negligible roles in the war. Post-war, the remaining camels were deemed obsolete, leading to their sale and dispersal across the country.

The Fate of the Camels

After the war, surplus camels were sold off. Many were abandoned, set free, or ended up in Nevada mining towns as pack animals. Unfortunately, a significant number were sold for meat or parts, contributing to the decline of camel populations in the United States.

Noel Brown (42:36):
"So a lot of those military camels were sold off. All of them."
(42:36)

The Legend of the Red Ghost

One of the most intriguing outcomes of the Camel Corps' demise is the emergence of the Red Ghost, an American cryptid rumored to haunt the Arizona Territory in the late 19th century. The Red Ghost was allegedly a giant camel-like creature, standing 30 feet tall, responsible for tragic encounters and mysterious disappearances.

Ben Born (44:38):
"It trampled a woman to death in 1883. It was rumored to stand 30ft tall."
(44:31)

Noel Brown (46:45):
"If you got one of those video games where you can create unique units of different stuff and make them fight each other, I cannot imagine the camel coming out on top."
(45:13)

While these tales are likely exaggerated, historical accounts suggest that some of the feral camels contributed to real incidents, blending fact with folklore. Marshall Trimble, the official state historian of Arizona, notes that while feral camels could survive longer in the desert, their numbers were insufficient to sustain a new camel civilization, leading to the gradual fading of the Red Ghost legend by the early 1900s.

Conclusion and Insights

The episode concludes by reflecting on the ambitious yet ultimately unsuccessful Camel Corps experiment. The blend of military innovation, political sabotage, and the harsh realities of the Civil War underscores the complexities of introducing non-native species into established systems. The legend of the Red Ghost serves as a fascinating example of how historical events can morph into folklore, blending truth with myth.

Ben Born (54:46):
"This tells us these sightings that were reported throughout the region up until the early 1900s were likely based in fact."
(54:27)

The hosts emphasize the importance of critical examination of historical anecdotes, recognizing the thin line between documented history and embellished storytelling.

Notable Quotes

• Noel Brown (05:22):
  "Imagine being halfway through a DIY car fix and realizing you're missing a part."

• Jonathan Strickland (12:08):
  "Camels were spitting on people. Side note, camels spit is nasty."
  (16:06)

• Ben Born (32:16):
  "There was a mule lobby, a powerful trade organization, that saw camels as an existential threat to their contracts."

• Jonathan Strickland (44:38):
  "A cowboy once tried to rope the Ghost. It turned and charged, nearly killing them both."

• Ben Born (54:46):
  "The legend might be embellished, but a wild camel, possibly an army camel, that escaped from Camp Verde was spotted."

Key Takeaways

• The US Camel Corps was an innovative but ultimately flawed attempt to adapt military logistics to desert environments.
• Behavioral and training challenges, coupled with political opposition from the mule lobby, led to the experiment's decline.
• The Civil War further marginalized the Camel Corps, resulting in the dispersal and sale of camels across the United States.
• The legend of the Red Ghost reflects how historical events can evolve into enduring folklore, blending reality with myth.

This episode of Ridiculous History offers a compelling narrative of ambition, challenges, and the unintended consequences of introducing non-native species into established systems. It underscores the importance of adaptability and the unpredictable nature of historical experiments.