How should we skirmish?

Keith

Numbers are the real poblem Keith, especially numbers of firers.

We seem to have a pretty good "add hoc" method which varies according to circumstances.

Yours.

Steve.

Unfortunatly we don't do alot of skirmishing because its not our job. I think the way we have been doing it is very loosly based on the way it was done. I presume there is a light infantry drill for this, we could use that.
James

The link to the 22e Ligne site has info on skirmishing, there is no "Official" drill book covering the entire army, though there are standing orders issued by various generals.

Keith

Keiths right the most useful material to hand is on the 22nds site, I think it goes to show that skirmishing tactics evolved over time, varied according to commander. I also found ospreys french napoloeonic infantry tactics page 18-21 summary of skirmishing a useful debate on the subject 'grande bande' myth vs 'trained companies'.

As you go later in the period, more and more is done by light and/if available voltiguer companies but as their casulties mounted and their numbers diminished surely grenadier and fusiliers would have also been used. I did read an action where voltigeurs were getting overwhelmed/ pushed back and fusiliers were brought forward to help them out. Equally I have read where under threat of hussars, a voltigeur unit lined up in two firing ranks. So I guess there is real overlap in what people were asked to do in a given situation in a given terrain.

Pairing in skirmishing has been documented enough, 'mariages' as they were called, with a good ten to fifteen yards between each skirmisher, enough to harrass the goddams but not so close that they would receive a targetted volley back. There's also 'rear-guard' protecting withdrawing columns vs. avant guard screening actions which also lend themselves to different deployments.

Duhesne said that in round about the Valmy period it was common practice for up to a fifth of a division went ahead in 'debandade' which in English roughly translated means a disorganised horde, similar to British open order. The big advantage of this being it screens what the rest of the attack is preparing to do. Actually if you have a copy of Philip Haythornwaites Napoleonic Infantry theres a fair amount of discussion around skirmishing.

I dont think we have the numbers though to do a 'horde' to great effect.

Christopher