Pete Meloni, Explaining Civil War Tactics

Company Deployed Forward As Skirmishers

This maneuver was used by commanders to probe the enemy lines. If the two armies were within range of each other, then the regimental commander (a colonel or above) would call out companies forward as skirmishers. According to Hardee’s, Casey’s and Gilham’s Tactics, if the company was at the halt or march, and the Captain wanted to deploy it forward as skirmishers on the left file of the first platoon while holding the second platoon in reserve, he would command:

1. First platoon—as skirmishers
2. On the left file—take intervals
3. March (or double quick—March)

 

The first platoon moves forward
(The interval was usually twenty paces between sections, and the skirmishers usually went forward to a point designated by the Captain.)

 

The second platoon moves to the rear
The 1st Lieutenant places himself in front
of the second platoon and commands:
Second platoon—backwards—March

At this command, the second platoon
marches three paces to the rear.
(This was done in order to create a reserve for 1st platoon.)

 

When the left file reaches the prescribed point, the captain commands halt.
Every group of four men then split up 5 paces from each other on the left and right front file men.
If the skirmishers come under enemy fire, they lie down to make use of the cover afforded by the ground.

The second platoon acts as the first platoon's reserve. They stay 150 paces to the rear of first platoon until retreat is called. They fill in holes of wounded or soldiers killed in combat in the skirmish line or fill in for soldiers who are too exhausted to continue. The general rule was that the reserve conform its movements to the movements of the skirmish line.


To advance in line :
1. Forward
1. March (or double quick March)

To Halt the line in advance or retreat:
Halt

To retreat the line:
1. In retreat
2. March (or double quick march)

To change direction:
1. Right Wheel
2. March (or double quick march
[In the wheel maneuver, the left side of the company pivots and the rest of the company rotates with it, swinging like a gate.]
3. Forward March

The firings as skirmishers are as follows:
Firing at the halt
Commence firing

This is the basic concept of the skirmish line and how it was used during the Civil War. The Union Armies used this maneuver very early in the war, while the Southern armies finally adopted this maneuver later in the war. This was despite the fact that the Confederacy had in its ranks (in the Army of Tennessee), the author of the most widely used tactics manual, Hardee’s Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics.