As Secretary of War from 1853-57, Jefferson Davis, known as the Father of National Highways, sponsored the importation of 33 camels to transport military supplies to the west coast. The camel trail survey ran from San Antonio, Texas, to Fort Tejon, which marked the western terminus as part of the Jefferson Davis Highway. The army camel corps arrived at Fort Tejon in November 1857 under the command of Lt. Edward F. Beale.