This is Hadji Ali, also known as Hi Jolly, with his wife Gertrudis in Arizona circa 1885. Hadji was the lead camel driver in the U.S. Army's famous experiment with camels back in the 1850s and his story is a great one.
Hadji was a man of diverse origins, born as Philip Tedro in Smyrna around 1828. His heritage encompassed both Syrian and Greek roots, with a Christian Arab father and a Greek mother. As a young adult, he embraced Islam and later adopted the name Hadji Ali after completing the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. In his later years, he reverted to his birth name, Philip Tedro.
Ali's expertise revolved around breeding and training camels. Prior to his involvement with the United States Army, he had served with the French Army in Algiers. In 1856 Ali was among a group of men hired by the US Army to introduce camels as cargo carriers across the arid expanse known as the "Great American Desert." Notably, eight of these individuals, including Ali, were of Greek descent. They arrived at the Port of Indianola in Calhoun County, Texas, aboard the USS Supply. The American authorities had acquired a total of 33 camels, procured from Tunis, Egypt, and Smyrna.
During the US Army's experiment with the U.S. Camel Corps, Ali assumed the role of lead camel driver in the harsh Southwestern deserts. Although they successfully completed a round trip from Texas to California, the experiment ultimately failed. One reason was the fear and panic displayed by the Army's burros, horses, and mules in the presence of these larger animals. Additionally, the strains of the American Civil War hindered Congress from allocating more funds to support the Corps. In 1864, the camels were auctioned off in Benicia, California, and Camp Verde, Texas. Ali's service with the Quartermaster Department of the U.S. Army ended in 1870.
Subsequently, Ali ventured into running a freight service between the Colorado River and mining establishments farther east, utilizing some camels he had acquired. Regrettably, his business endeavors were met with limited success, prompting him to release the camels into the desert near Gila Bend. In 1880, he became an American citizen and used his birth name, Philip Tedro (sometimes spelled Teadrow), when he married Gertrudis Serna in Tucson, Arizona. Together, they had two children. In 1885, Ali was once again employed by the U.S. Army in Arizona, where he worked with pack mules during the Geronimo campaign.
Hadji's involvement in the US Camel Corps earned him a reputation as a living legend, which endured until his passing in Arizona. During his later years, Ali relocated to Quartzsite, Arizona, engaging in mining activities and occasionally serving as a scout for the U.S. government. He ultimately passed away in 1902 and was laid to rest in the Quartzsite Cemetery.
Hadji was a man of diverse origins, born as Philip Tedro in Smyrna around 1828. His heritage encompassed both Syrian and Greek roots, with a Christian Arab father and a Greek mother. As a young adult, he embraced Islam and later adopted the name Hadji Ali after completing the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. In his later years, he reverted to his birth name, Philip Tedro.
Ali's expertise revolved around breeding and training camels. Prior to his involvement with the United States Army, he had served with the French Army in Algiers. In 1856 Ali was among a group of men hired by the US Army to introduce camels as cargo carriers across the arid expanse known as the "Great American Desert." Notably, eight of these individuals, including Ali, were of Greek descent. They arrived at the Port of Indianola in Calhoun County, Texas, aboard the USS Supply. The American authorities had acquired a total of 33 camels, procured from Tunis, Egypt, and Smyrna.
During the US Army's experiment with the U.S. Camel Corps, Ali assumed the role of lead camel driver in the harsh Southwestern deserts. Although they successfully completed a round trip from Texas to California, the experiment ultimately failed. One reason was the fear and panic displayed by the Army's burros, horses, and mules in the presence of these larger animals. Additionally, the strains of the American Civil War hindered Congress from allocating more funds to support the Corps. In 1864, the camels were auctioned off in Benicia, California, and Camp Verde, Texas. Ali's service with the Quartermaster Department of the U.S. Army ended in 1870.
Subsequently, Ali ventured into running a freight service between the Colorado River and mining establishments farther east, utilizing some camels he had acquired. Regrettably, his business endeavors were met with limited success, prompting him to release the camels into the desert near Gila Bend. In 1880, he became an American citizen and used his birth name, Philip Tedro (sometimes spelled Teadrow), when he married Gertrudis Serna in Tucson, Arizona. Together, they had two children. In 1885, Ali was once again employed by the U.S. Army in Arizona, where he worked with pack mules during the Geronimo campaign.
Hadji's involvement in the US Camel Corps earned him a reputation as a living legend, which endured until his passing in Arizona. During his later years, Ali relocated to Quartzsite, Arizona, engaging in mining activities and occasionally serving as a scout for the U.S. government. He ultimately passed away in 1902 and was laid to rest in the Quartzsite Cemetery.
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