bout to attack, by the
incessant sharp buzzing of their deadly bullets among them, like so many
bees, killing some and disabling others; and this, sometimes, to such a
degree as to demoralize them.

It is said that, at Waterloo, the swarms of skirmishers that covered the
French attacking columns so galled and excited the stationary columns
and squares of some of the Allies, as to nearly drive them from the
field.

(3.) On the flanks of a column, they cover them from attack.

(4.) They draw the enemy's fire prematurely, and thus render it
comparatively ineffective.

(5.) They prevent the columns from halting to deploy and fire.

(6.) They may sometimes conceal the direction of the march of the
attacking column, and even seize the guns that have been playing on it.

10. In defence, if they can _encircle the enemy's advancing column_,
they may destroy it by their concentric fire.

11. In a retreat, skirmishers _cover the rear_, so long as the enemy
attacks without cavalry.

12. The NEW RIFLED ARMS have obviously much increased the effectiveness
of skirmishers.

B. HOW POSTED.

1. They should be always _near enough to the main body to be supported
by it_, if hard pressed, and also to enable the main body to profit at
once of any advantage that may have been gained by them.

2. They should _cover the main body_, both in front and in flank, except
where the ground may render this impracticable or unnecessary; and, in
defensive positions, they should occupy every point from which the
enemy's skirmishers might annoy us.

3. In a defensive combat, they should be so posted as to take the
enemy's attack _in flank_:

(1.) Because their fire will be thus the more destructive; and--

(2.) They will not be exposed to be driven back by the enemy's fire, or
by his advance.

4. If thrown into an enclosure, they must have _an easy exit_.
Skirmishers feeling themselves in danger of being cut off, will lose
somewhat of that coolness which is so essential to their efficiency.

5. They should not be kept stationary _behind a straight line_, as a
wall, a fence, or a hedge; for this would expose them to enfilade.

6. Skirmishers are only auxiliary to the main force, and are not
capable, by themselves, of effecting any decisive result. Therefore, in
order not to exhaust the men, _heavy_ skirmishing lines should not be
used, except to lead a decided advance, or to repel one.

7. The principle is, to post skirmishers so as