Shannon Stirnweis (B. 1931) "Army and Camels" Signed lower left. Oil and Acrylic on Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared in the Fleetwood Trails West Collection of Fine Art Prints as "The Camel Corps" published in 1983. With the discovery of gold in California, thousands of easterners set off to make the trip westward. But the transcontinental journey was long, arduous and dangerous -- and the need for an overland route was crucial. So the government sent soldiers and other military personnel to establish roads and protective military posts. However, the rugged, bone-dry deserts were devastating obstacles to the horses and mules the soldiers needed for overland travel. The animals' insatiable need for water, and their inability to carry heavy loads made the military look to another beast of burden that could hold up under the harsh conditions. One insightful man, Jefferson Davis, saw many of the difficulties presented by western deserts could be overcome with the use of camels ... animals already proven in deserts of the Far East. He convinced the United Staes govenment to procure a number of the beasts to see if they could provide the rugged and dependable transportation the military needed. By late 1856, thirty-three fine camesl were shipped from the Far East to Indianola, Texas, where the army reluctantly received the animals. At first, the soldiers despised the camels because of their extremely foul smell and unpredicatable temper. However, after the animals proved themselves as remarkably superior transportation over the vast, waterless deserts, the soldiers were proud to be a part of America's only Camel Corps. Image Size: 18 x 20.75 in. Overall Size: 20 x 22.75 in. Unframed. (B07838)