In 1856 the U.S. Army began an experiment using camels for supply transport in the Southwest, but the animals proved ill suited to the American Southwest. In November 1859 a civilian contractor turned over 28 camels to the Army at Fort Tejon, where the post quartermaster cared for the herd until 1861, when it was transferred to the Los Angeles Depot. Except possibly for an unsuccessful messenger service in September 1860, the camels were never used in military operations, and the often mentioned "Camel Corps" never existed.