(1.) They increase the confidence of the troops they accompany. Placed
between the columns, they advance boldly because the columns advance,
and the columns advance boldly because the skirmishers do.
(2.) Preceding the columns, by driving back the enemy's skirmishers, and
diverting his fire to themselves, they keep the attacking columns as
free from loss as possible till the shock.
They, moreover, serve to annoy the troops we are about 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.