Distrubing National Event 'trend': No Skirmishers and Postage Stamp sized battlefield

[RJSamp]

I attended both Manassas and Wilson's Creek.....

both had tiny battlefields for the reenactors who actually attended....

and both had negligible to zero use of skirmisher's.....

At Manassas 0, I know that a sizeable force of skirmisher's was sent out from the ford by the Union......and true enough, there may not have been a ton of skirmishing coming down to the Stone House and back up the Henry House Hill..... and at Manassas 150 there were 'some' skirmisher's out on Saturday for certain.....but just didn't seem like a lot of this was going on (at least not habitually).

I hope units do a lot of skirmish drill from now until Shiloh.....and Andtietam (hey, just made that one up Chris), and Perryville.....and then we get to see CLOUDS of skirmishers by 2013......

Would love to see skirmishers act like they are getting shot at....and Sergeant's that stopped worrying about perfect alignment and allowed the skirmish line to seek cover on their own initiative.....

[flattop32355]

30th Ohio, serving as the 13th NYVI, had a skirmish line on Sunday. Skirmish line plus reserve, which relieved the initial line. The company was reformed and went into the main fight with the battalion. We made use of the minimal cover (widely spaced trees, slignt rise to the ground in front of us). Ranges were far, far too close, though, but that's the nature of a spectator battle.

I hate seeing "distrubing" trends...They can be, well, so distrubing!

[Spinster]

I gather that, during the Centennial, Midwestern schools emphasized military history over other subjects, such as spelling.


I know that was the case in my own education.

Ow ow my cheek is bleeding.

[Jubilo]

Dear Sir,
The disturbing trend or perhaps practice, I have witnessed first -hand, is units not conducting skirmish drill at all. Personally it's my favorite form of mock-combat/military simulation but its scarce as hen's teeth. The heck you say!
Postage-sized battlefields: Most of Manassas was a treat for spectators but at Wilson's Creek it seemed some of the combat would have been difficult for a spectator to view. It often seems that even at the smallest events, the action is far from the spectators. The latest Bentonville was almost criminal!!!! As Americans, we're spoiled with our open spaces . With Recession cutbacks perhaps we should appreciate what we have to enjoy our hobby.
all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Once again as of late, I'm in total agreement. The field sizes are out of our hands for the most part, since event organizers are finding it harder and harder to find adequate spaces on a budget. As for skirmish drill, Mr. Corbett is correct, units just are conducting skirmish drill anymore. I can honestly say the last time I participated with a unit conducting correct skirmish drill was at Shiloh in '06. Granted, I haven't attended the number of events I used to do, but still a fair number. As with almost all aspects of drill, skirmish drill has fallen by the wayside. Its a bad trend as far as I'm concerned.

[MIssouriOzarksCW]

Our unit spent a bit of time on skirmish drill at Wilson's creek for the battle...however as plans often do, they changed and a skirmish line was not used. I lied---I forgot that Thursday evening we got a chance to set up a small skirmish line...but only a relatively small group got to see it.

What bugs me is the commanders at these events get so preoccupied by how straight the lines are for photo worth formations. Even in the midst of the battle dressing our lines was the number one priority. At points it got silly as we spent several minutes adjusting the troop formations as the rebels had opened fire 2 minutes earlier. A little anarchy (as always I'm sure things vary) in terms of troop movements would have been normal I'm sure.

What I also get a kick out of at smaller events with 30 reenactors on each side is the formation of small squad vs squad in two ranks 15 men long fighting in an open field. But I'm sure it's good for spectators to get an idea of how things would have worked in varying formations.

[Silas]

You can only stuff so many sardines in the can. Same principle applies to big events on small fields. Sometimes there are too many soldiers.

At some point the available land is too filled with soldiers that there's not much point in establishing a skirmish line. This is especially true where the opposing sides are just in view of each other. Also, if the field possesses great views for spectators - meaning, virtually flat - it probably lacks sufficient accidents of terrain to justify a skirmish line.

Think about a purpose of a skirmish line : it acts like a trip wire to protect an advancing body of troops - either in column or line of battle - from walking into a disaster. For troops halted in line of battle, in bivouac or at rest on the march, it similarly prevents surprise. If the parties in a sham battle can see each other, there are few reasons to advance a skirmish line. I suppose protecting an exposed flank, scenario or burning powder are reasons for a skirmish line. As for the trip wire concept, it's rarely justified.

The trend may not be so much about smaller battlefields as about greater concentrations of reenactors on the fields which have already been used. The 150th mega events are going to draw more people for locations than the locations typically draw. The recent Manassas being an example of innundation. The upcoming Big One at Gettysburg being a hyper example. At some point there are too many soldiers on the field to portray what may have happened on a field that size. That's the way it goes.

Hard to blame land owners and event organizers for trying to recoup their investments. They really stick their financial necks out by staging events. Then there's the time involved in staging an event. Both are much larger than Joe Reenactor imagines.

The only thing participants at big events can do is minimize their own expectations. Don't expect authenticity at the circus. This applies to all aspects of drill and tactics. If you're lucky enough to participate in a skirmish line in a belt of trees, behind the military crest of a hill or flat in a quasi-open field firing prone with sufficient distances, you're doing well.

[Jubilo]

Dear sir,
The "trip wire," is not valid point at most reenactment since they are not "surprise or encounter" engagements but set-piece scenarios. At Monocacy a few years back I witnessed Old Jube's advance with skirmishers to the forefront as it looked superbly military. The terrain was open and pretty flat. They opened fire and fell back and the gray columns deployed into line. The experience was akin to watching a first-hand account in motion. I suppose the skirmisher fell in with the lines of battle but for a few minutes, they had recreated history. Good thing about skirmishers: it don't take long to deploy, rally or reposition them.
all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Capnball]

It is really funny that ya'll have gotten going on this subject, as I was contemplating this exact thing at Wilson's Creek. I am a real noob to "tactics", but I, in my reading accounts of how it happened, always appreciated the skirmishers. If I could learn the drill, I might could field some CS skirmishers at the BGA Shiloh next year. I also wanted to suggest this: Could things not be done (especially on smaller fields such as the one we were on at WC) where, if the troops were to move onto the field from respective woodlines or whatever (as at WC), could not the battle be opened by skirmishers going in advance of the main troop bodies, skirmish, and fall back? Say, maybe meeting their respective troop bodies as they enter the field? Do the skirmishers have to be a certain short distance in front of the main body? Also, can someone please educate me on the difference between skirmishers and vedettes? What manual or other information source do I need to read to learn proper skirmish drill? Were dismounted cavalry ever employed as skirmishers?

PS: I agree with Mr. Corbett: While I like to complain about descrepancies and logistics problems as much as anyone else, I do think that we contribute more to the hobby if we stick with it thru the bad times as well as the good. Also, might I be brave enough to suggest that the individual contributes to the hobby by going to more events, even ones he doesn't like. The only reasons I see to walk out on an event are compromised safety, and severe negligence on the part of the hosts.

[flattop32355]

I also wanted to suggest this: Could things not be done (especially on smaller fields such as the one we were on at WC) where, if the troops were to move onto the field from respective woodlines or whatever (as at WC), could not the battle be opened by skirmishers going in advance of the main troop bodies, skirmish, and fall back? Say, maybe meeting their respective troop bodies as they enter the field? Do the skirmishers have to be a certain short distance in front of the main body? Also, can someone please educate me on the difference between skirmishers and vedettes? What manual or other information source do I need to read to learn proper skirmish drill? Were dismounted cavalry ever employed as skirmishers?

A vedette is a mounted guard, or picket.
Both Hardee's and Casey's devote sections to instruction of skirmishers.
Cavalry often were used as skirmishers, and fought dismounted, as opposed to unmounted (we don't have horses) cavalry, which were used as infantrymen.

What you initially describe was known by U.S. Grant as "feeding the fight": Skirmishers make first contact, the main body then comes up, drives in the enemy's skirmish or picket line, and engages its main line. Reserves are sent in keep up the pressure and to exploit weak points/breakthroughs. Reenactors don't like to be held back in reserve, so it usually all happens at once, instead of in depth like in the real war.

Skirmish lines, and picket lines for that matter, are usually placed in an advanced position to the main body far enough out to give ample time for it to form into line of battle/man the defences before the enemy can reach it. That can sometimes be quite some distance, but usually less than a mile out in front, and often closer.

Get yourself a copy of Hardee's or Casey's and start reading and studying. Read things more than once; it takes some time to grasp some of the concepts.