158 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUEOPE. 



The individual oblique step is never Tised for a distance greater than ten paces ; for oblique 

 movements longer than that each man half faces to the right or left. 



To wheel a division (comiiany of two platoons) to the right, on a fixed p)ivot, the first platoon 

 wheels to the right, and the second acts as prescribed in the United States tactics for the second 

 company of a battalion changing front forward on the first company. The division also changes 

 front on the centre. 



In route, troops march in column by platoons, half platoons, or sections. The distance 

 between the ranks, in this case, is from three and a half to five feet. 



OF SKIEMISHERS. 



Circumstances and the nature of the ground sometimes make it necessary for infantry to act in 

 scattered parties, instead of in close, compact order ; e. g., to occupy forests, copses, villages, or 

 to protect different movements of troops acting in close order, such as deployments, flank 

 marches, movements in advance or retreat, &c. ; such service is called skirmishing. 



As entire regiments are seldom deployed as skirmishers, there are in each company forty- 

 eight men who are perfectly instructed in that duty, and are called skirmishers. Of this number, 

 twenty-four are held in constant readiness to act upon the first call for skirmshers, and are 

 called active skirmishers; the remaining twenty-four are held in readiness to support or replace 

 the others, in case of need, and are called reserve skirmishers. 



All the men of the regiment should, however, be instructed in skirmish drill. Each captain 

 selects from his company the four sergeants and forty-eight privates who are most active and 

 best fitted for the service of skirmishers, and submits their names, through his chief of battalion, 

 for the ajiprobation of the colonel ; the latter, having satisfied himself that they possess the 

 qualities and knowledge necessary for skirmishers, appoints them as such in regimental orders ; 

 any vacancies are filled in the same manner. 



OF THE INSTRUCTION AND FORMATION OF SKIRMISHERS. 



It is necessary that a skirmisher should be active, quick, fully informed as to the object of his 

 service, and a good marksman. 



Although the skirmish drill itself augments the activity of the soldier, yet it is very useful 

 to oblige the men to climb fences and hedges promptly and actively; to leap streams, ditches, 

 &c., in addition to instructing them in running, as a jn-eparation for the drill. 



The soldier being accustomed to move and act in close order, it is necessary to impress upon 

 him that, so soon as he finds himself in open order, he need no longer trouble himself about 

 the step or alignment ; but should execute every movement easily and lightly, turning his 

 whole attention towards the enemy, thinking how to injure them most with the least incon- 

 venience to himself, and availing himself of every feature of the ground for cover. 



For this purpose, in the instruction of skirmishers, the ofiicers should turn their attention to 

 the advantages to be taken of the ground, and explain to the men the manner of availing 

 themselves of it; for example, if they have hillocks in front of them, they may lie down or 

 kneel behind them; when attacking in a forest, they should advance from tree to tree, and, 

 having thus arrived near the enemy, endeavor to inflict such injury upon him as to drive him 

 from the place ; in a retreat through a forest, they should cover themselves behind trees and 

 bushes, thus defending the position and their comrades ; they should also be instructed how to 

 lie down in ditches, behind fences, hedges, &c., and how to use their weapons to advantage in 

 all positions. 



