Mississippi rifle question

[Rob Weaver]

If you deploy your infantry as skirmishers, do you lessen or eliminate the safety issues inherent in putting the same mixed company in close ranks?

[Viceroy]

If you deploy your infantry as skirmishers, do you lessen or eliminate the safety issues inherent in putting the same mixed company in close ranks?

I would say "no." IMO, I think that the biggest safety concern would come from the untrained/undisciplined troop. New guys might not be familiar with the ins and outs of fighting in a wool suit. Skirmish lines stretch out the company command. It is difficult for command to monitor each soldier and watch for potential heat stroke, dehydration, or exhaustion in skirmish formation. The rank and file can watch each other and tell the new guys, "take a drink/hit."

New guys don't understand how to control their fire. I mostly refer to misfires and elevation. Again, the proximity of old hands in the rank and file offers immediate assistance. Some newbies might not even notice that their piece hadn't discharged. Also, in the rank and file, command can wait to give a "fire" command until they are satisfied with everyone's elevation. Immediate correction would be more difficult in a skirmish line.

These are just a few examples of why I think that skirmish companies should not be a dumping ground for raw recruits with a loaner rifle. Put the cherry in the front rank and loan him your musket while more experienced hands handle the rifle. IMO, skirmish companies should be for experienced reenactors who have made investments into their impression beyond the basic level. As this thread already points out, firearms have become more expensive. Assuming that most of the skirmishers in said company have rifles, they should also be well schooled in bugle calls. Treating infantry skirmish companies as dumping grounds for newbies, dismounted cav, and farbs is disrespectful to those who have moved beyond the standard infantry impression.

Why would an overall infantry cdr give up good infantrymen to cavalry command? Does he not know how to use them? Use them as skirmishers, flankers, or reserves.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

"If you deploy your infantry as skirmishers, do you lessen or eliminate the safety issues inherent in putting the same mixed company in close ranks?"

IMHO it depends... upon the basic "level" of lads or their Hobby Community, and depends upon which Hobby Community's events one is at.

If the issue of the "Two Bander" and the "Three Bander" is as Reenacting Lore and Tradition has it, then the issue is (perceived) safety as inexperienced, undrilled, undisciplined, and unmonitored lads are not blowing out the ear drums and eyes of front rank men in front of them with short rifles from the rear ranks... IF they are out as so-called "skirmishers."

BUT, lore and tradition at some levels and/or events likes to deal with "issues" of inexperienced, undrilled, undisciplined, and unmonitored lads often not in units, often walk-on's, often unknowns....by having them go out between the opposing lines of a dog-and-pony-show reenactment and pot-shot as they do not know skirmish drill either. But with no one around them, their greater risk and lack of safety that comes from lacking Period manual knowledge, experience, drill, and the watchful eyes of knowledgeable and experienced NCO's and officers gets minimized a bit out in the open, far apart, versus in ranks and files.

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt

[Rob Weaver]

Our conventional wisdom says that it's better to put them in close ranks where management can be immediate. For sake of arguement, let's posit that we're talking about a new reenactor with a rifle (rather than, say, me with my Sharps). I've had new men in the ranks in both circumstances. In close ranks, according to their after action discussions, they felt a lot of pressure, and felt acutely the expectation to do the right thing, both in terms of safety and authenticity. At the same time, they have had several voices, literally surrounding them, telling them sometimes conflicting views of what that right thing should be. In skirmish order, you worry about your file mate. You have a little breathing space. I know that I've had at least 2 guys who told me that their new reenacting experience was better skirmishing than in close ranks.