Camp Carlin

Camp Carlin was the second largest frontier supply depot, west of the Mississippi River from 1867 to 1890.  To get much needed supplies to frontier U.S. Army forts and Indian Stations, Pack mules were used.  Wild Bill was one of those mules!  One of 2000 that were housed and trained here!

Camp Carlin, nicknamed after Lt. Col. Elias Carling—its first quartermaster— was the second largest supply depot west of the Mississippi River in 1867. Newly established Cheyenne and Fort D.A. Russell were its neighbors. The new Union Pacific Railroad, responsible for the town, supply depot and army fort, unloaded frontier supplies at Camp Carlin to be delivered by pack mules to frontier forts and Indian stations in a 300-mile radius from the supply depot. The corrals at Camp Carlin could hold around 2000 mules. What a noise!

The History of Pack Mules

Mules have been found to be the best pack animals in hard-to-reach areas where supplies are needed. Even today, they are utilized by companies and governments where helicopters cannot reach. Wild Bill, Do You Want To Be A Pack Mule? is the story about a young mule who doesn’t like the uncomfortable equipment needed to be a pack mule. The story shows his displeasure and builds confidence in a sweet, rhyming way with the help of his young packer. Wild Bill at first is hesitant to learn new things due to discomfort or fear. His packer simply loved him and gently repeated the needed sequences until confidence and trust were reached!

About The Real “Wild Bill”

There really was a pack mule named Wild Bill at Camp Carlin near Cheyenne, WY in the 1870s who carried supplies to frontier forts in Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Utah and Idaho until 1889, when Camp Carlin was no longer needed. The railroad became a more important deliverer. Don’t worry, the mules all found good homes.