Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: JW Boots on 04 October 2024, 10:01:14 AM
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Skirmishers are a distinct feature of the Napoleonic wars. We have these depictions of swarms of voltigeurs, riflemen, jaeger, etc. well ahead of their main bodies. In many of these the typical distance between skirmish screen and main body is indicated... but I wonder what is the typical range to the target unit that skirmishers operated at? I find it hard to find any references on that, and also hard to imagine they would go for seeing the white in their target's eyes... any suggestions to good resources for this?
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Not really. But the venerable WRG 1750-1850 rules had two bands of musket ranges: 0-60 paces and 60-120 paces. Line infantry muskets could not hit skirmishers at long range but could at the closer range. While skirmishers fired more accurately than line troops, it behooved them to stay at the longer ranges. The rules cite Jomini's Summary of the Art of War and von Ehwald's A Treatise Upon the Duties of Light Troops for the infantry.
Hmm, I note Ehwald's book is available on Kindle. May have just talked myself into purchasing a copy. He and his jaegers were present at many of the battles of the American Revolution.
Edit: currently reading the book. All about Kleine Krieg so far, much about outposts, patrols, raids and such so far, nothing about shooting up line units yet.