Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-02-27
AUXILIARY REMOUNT
DEPOT FIVE MILES
FROM CAMP

1t is no fault of the civilian world
that So per cent of it is ignorant as to
the duties and the part that the Re-
mount Depots play. The fault lies with
the newspaper correspondents. They
devote most of their time to the lar
ger units, the camps and environments,
and the idle moments they have are
consumed in writing articles showing
where the War Department has made
a mistake in this. or that, or the other
undertaking. If they would devote a
little more of their professional time
to eniightening the public along lines
that they know least about they would
do their country a much greater SER
vice.
/ will never forget the day that I
reportd for duty with the Remount
here. Upon reaching Augusta I en-
deavored to get several taxi drivers to
drive me to my destination, but after
looking at me with blank expressions
they had to admit that they knew of no
such place in Richmond county. After
questioning several officers at Camp
Hancock as to the location of the Re-
cunt I at last reached it, nine miles
from Augusta and five from Camp
Hancock. The site is very pictures
que one, on a hill amid the Georgia
pines with the corral sheds stretching
down the slopes into the valleys below
the animals wandering lazily about and
occasionally taking g. much from the
hay in the ricks
The authorized strength Of an AuxiI-
larry Remount Depot is six commission
ed officers and two hundred and nine~
ty-eight enlisted men. This does not
include the Veterinary Corps and the
attached students of the Horseshoers'
School, which brings the total up to
about four hundred men. The duties OF
these men consist Of caring for the an
iTna1s, training in the different branch
ees and the policing of the grounds.
Only certain length Of time each day
is devoted to drill.
The principle object of the Renount
is supplying the Division with the nec-
essary animals for use in the different
organizations. These -s@imals are ship
ped from different points in the United
States under the jurisdiction Of q Pur-
chasing Quartermaster Upon arrival
at tn Remount the animals are checked
from the cars, turned into the Corrals
and there they remain until they have
passed through the isolation period and
are then ready for issue.
A most important detachment is the
Wagon Company. 1t consists of so
wagons and SO enlisted men and is
commanded by a captain. The object
oof the Wagon Company is the neces-
sary transportation for the Remount
and the training of the men in driv-
ing and handling the animals. In adj
dition it is conducting a school for
teamsters from all organizations Of the
2Sth Division.
Next comes the Pack train with the
curious, innocent little pack mules re-
sembling the 'burros" found in Texas.
When the Pack Train goes out on the
road for a hike, with the aparajos
H. les
backs, led by the bell mare" it Gre
ates quite a scene to those not accus~
toned to seeing it and they look on the
humorous side more than the serious.
These mules with their aparajos will
play a leading part in this war No
doubt you wonder why this means OF
transportation is used when it would
seem that such a small amount of
supplies could be moved by them.
There are numbers of places in France
where no motor driven vehicles can
go, where the earth is soft by the
heavy rains and the constant tramp of
the soldiers, and the only means Of
transportation across such places is
the Pack Train. 1t Is remarkable just
much one of these little pack mules can
carry, and with fifty in one train you
can very readily see that no small
amount of supplies can be moved in
this manner The Pack Train also acts
as a school for packers from the Di-
vision.
Much training along different lines
is carried on among the men by COM
petent instructors. Organizations from
the Division pick the men best suitable
as horseshoers and they are sent to the
Horseshoers' School, veterinarian
acting as Senior Instructor, assigned
by Sergeant LIST Glass. These men are
trained over a prescribed period and
upon passing the final examinations
are awarded diplomas which classify
them as horseshoers. This school is one
of the most important that is conduct
ed at the Remount for much depends
on the proper shoeing of the animals.
All Of these schools are most neces-
sary. because of the fact that several
thousand teamsters, packers and
horseshoers will be needed and there
are very few good ones to be found In
this country.
A REMOUNT SERGEANT.