Bishop’s Beardless Boys vs 1,800 Screaming Mojaves, Yumans & Paiutes.
April 7, 1859
After months on the trail from California’s Fort Tejon, Samuel Bishop and 23 volunteers mount 20 camels and a couple mules at one in the morning, taking off from Paiute Spring in Nevada for the Colorado River.
Up ahead, along the banks of the Colorado River, are a combined force of 1,800 Mojaves, Yumans and Paiute warriors determined to stop the advance by Bishop and his crew.
Bishop warns his “beardless boys” that they are facing odds of 50 to 1 in favor of their Indian adversaries, since reloading their rifles or pistols on the dead run will be near impossible. Their only hope, Bishop tells them, is that the Mojaves view camels as slow moving pack animals; they have never witnessed a charging line of camels.
Arriving at the edge of Beaver Lake, Bishop and his charges dismount and rest. They soon see an estimated 500 warriors cross the river and move toward them in a tight formation, 400 yards wide and completely blocking the path to the river.
None of the boys with Bishop have prior military experience, but they are all proficient with their weapons.
The camels rest in a kneeling position, enjoying a snack of fresh, young mesquite leaves. Their Arab trainer, Hadji “Hi Jolly” Ali moves around them, whispering to each one in Arabic.
After a short speech, Bishop barks, “Mount!” as he climbs into the saddle of Seid, Lt. Edward F. Beale’s favorite white camel.
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