Camp Verde, on Verde Creek three miles north of Bandera Pass, was established in 1856 for frontier protection and as a camel post. The idea of using camels for transportation on the Texas frontier was fostered by Jefferson Davis, who induced Congress to pass the act establishing this post and sending to Egypt to secure camels. Eighty camels and twelve Armenian drivers were brought here, but the experiment was a failure after ten years trial. The soft, spongy feet of the camels prevented their use in these hills, and in the course of time the government sold most of them for $12 to $14 per head. Some of them escaped and grew wild, some were taken to Mexico to be used by a transportation company, and some were taken to California. Amasa Clark, who lives near Bandera, worked with these camels and has two pillows made from camels' hair which he secured while there.
Among those in command of tiffs post at different times were Gen. Robert E. Lee, Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson, Major Bowman, Lieut. Wheaten, and others. It was from here that Gen. Johnson started on his expedition to operate against the Mormons in Utah in 1857,
There is now but little left of the old post. The officers' barracks building has been slightly remodeled and is occupied as a dwelling by Mr. W. H. Bonnell, who owns the property The other buildings have all been torn down and removed.