KNOW YOUR SKIRMISH DRILL

BY PRIVATE ROSS BURKENSTOCK

 

After reenacting for over 8 years now, I can say that I probably am comfortable with most aspects of basic company and battalion level drill.  The one area where I still have to think is when performing skirmish drill.  While we don’t often get the opportunity to practice this, it should become second nature.  At small events, a spread out skirmish line makes for a better showing when trying to perform a battle with a small number of troops.  At large events, you never know when your company or consolidated company might get detached as skirmishers to act as an advance guard or as a delay rearguard while the rest of the battalion is in retreat. 

 

Before going over some of the basics of the drill itself, it is important to keep in mind the basics of skirmishing:

 

  1. Movements should not be performed with the same precision as in closed ranks.
  2. Skirmishers should move so as to keep the main body of troops covered.
  3. Every body of skirmishers should have a reserve behind the center of the line.
  4. Skirmishers will move at quick or double quick time
  5. Pieces will be carried in manner most convenient
  6. General alignment should be preserved, but no advantage of the ground should be given up to preserve the alignment.  Take cover when available.
  7. Normally, on open ground, there will be five paces between men in the same comrades in battle.  In no case will comrades in battle lose sight of one another.
  8. In commencing fire, men in the same rank should not fire at once, and men of the same file should ensure one or the other is always loaded.
  9. Skirmishers should be trained to load while marching, halting an instant when charging cartridge and priming.
  10. Skirmishers should be practiced in loading and firing while kneeling, lying down and sitting.

               

With these basics in mind, the first thing to help break the confusion of skirmish commands is to understand the command logic.  First, the company moves and functions in groups of fours called “Comrades in Battle”.  In skirmish commands, a reference to the right file, left file or center file actually refers to the group of four to the right, left or center, respectively.  Furthermore, most marching commands like right wheel, by the right flank, by files right, communicate a motion to the side being stated.  Skirmish commands are somewhat different.  “Company- as skirmishers- on the right file- take intervals- MARCH”, indicates that the rest of the Company will not move to the right, but will in fact deploy off of the right file (group of four) which will in fact move forward but straight ahead (SEE FIGURE 1).  There will then be twenty paces between each group of four in order to allow the deployment of each individual group.  The rear rank will step up and to the left of their front rank counterpart with five paces separating each man (FIGURE 2).  The deployment and spacing of the “Comrades in Battle” will remain the same despite the command with the only differences being the file from which you are deploying (right, left, center). 

 

 

Once the whole line is deployed, each file (Rear and front rank 1 or rear and front rank 2) will function as partners, firing in sequence to assure that there is always a loaded rifle at the ready.  This technique is very important, particularly when skirmishers are deployed before the main body of infantry to protect or screen against cavalry.  Horses can cover short pieces of ground quickly, and experienced troopers will wait for inexperienced skirmishers to discharge their weapons at once before making a charge that can easily route a scattered, small infantry group.

 

NEXT:  Advancing as skirmishers