At the battle of Stone River, the rebels, on one occasion, advanced in
line, with a double column in rear of each wing, preceded by a double
line of skirmishers, who reserved their fire till close to our line,
when they halted, poured in a murderous fire, and fell back on their
main body, which then rushed forward. Both our first and second lines,
staggered by this sudden and destructive fire, were swept from the
ground.
8. Skirmishers have been sometimes thrown forward to _test the spirit
and disposition_ of the enemy.
At Biberach, in 1800, the French general St. Cyr, after having carried
the place, and driven the Austrians through the defile in rear of it
back upon their main body, posted on the heights of Wittenburg, sent
forward a strong line of skirmishers to open fire on them, with the view
of ascertaining their temper and disposition after their vanguard had
been defeated and driven in. This drew forth a general and continued
discharge, like that which demoralized troops are apt to indulge in to
keep up their spirits by their own noise. Seeing this, St. Cyr instantly
prepared to charge, although he had with him but twenty thousand men,
and the Austrians numbered sixty thousand, and were in a strong
position. The result justified his decision; for, on the near approach
of the French, the Austrians fired a volley or two and then retreated in
confusion.