COMMENDED ESSAY, 1896. 84:7 
Arter toe AcrTION. 
As regards the duties which would have to be undertaken after the 
action is over, it has already been indicated that the Divisional Columns 
should during the fight replenish the brigade-division both in ammuni- 
tion, stores, horses and men to the best of their ability. The Columns 
in their turn would expect and command similar assistance from the 
Ammunition Parks, and they should be filled up and refitted during 
the night so that they may be ready to move forward early the next 
morning. The Ammunition Parks must look to the Ordnance Store 
Department for a replenishment of ammunition and stores for them- 
selves and to the officer commanding the line of communications for a 
reinforcement of men and horses. 
The officer in command of the artillery of the corps will have to 
requisition the Ordnance Store Department for enough ammunition to 
fill up the Park belonging to his corps. It will therefore be the first 
duty of an officer commanding an Ammunition Park to communicate 
the C.R.A. after an action, let him know how he stands as regards 
ammunition, and inform him as to how much more is to be demanded. 
There will be a remount depdt at or near the base and it will be 
necessary to communicate with it at once, and to report the loss of 
horses at the front, what steps have been taken to replace them, and 
how many more are likely to be required. 
There will further bea sick horse depdt at or near the advanced 
depét already spoken of. A demand should be first made on it for it 
will be prepared to receive and issue remounts when sent to the front, 
and at it sick or slightly wounded horses will be attended to. Horses 
not likely to recover should be destroyed. 
That there is ample scope and verge for energy and skill on the part 
of officers in charge of Ammunition Columns will be evident from a 
perusal of this brief sketch of the duties which will fall to their share 
on active service. It is not possible to go very minutely into detail 
because much must always depend on circumstances, on the nature of 
the country operated in, on the period of the campaign (because during 
a protracted one we may be sure the normal condition of an Ammuni- 
tion Column will become considerably modified) and on the situation 
of the hour; but enough perhaps has been said to give a man unaccus- 
tomed to the work some notion, both as to what he may have to do, and 
how he may with most facility do it. 
Tn conclusion it may be well to add that the work with sucha Column, 
if less stimulating than that with the fighting line, is every whit as 
useful. Let no man therefore despise a position in which he may 
play a réle noless honourable and valueable than his comrade further to 
the front. To feed an army and supply itis as difficult and as important 
as to lead it skilfully. “I do not know if I ama good General” said the 
great Duke once, “but I am sure that Iam a good Commissariat officer.’ 
A man may similarly plume himself on his conduct of an Ammunition 
Column ; it may be due to his care and forethought as much as to any- 
thing else that the issue of the day has been successful, and at its close 
he may reflect with satisfaction that— 
“THEY ALSO SERVE THAT ONLY STAND AND WAIT.” 
