Skirmish tactics have evolved throughout history, starting with light infantry in ancient warfare who used ranged weapons to harass enemy formations before a main battle. Later developments, particularly in the American Colonial and Revolutionary Wars, integrated Native American fighting styles that emphasised cover, ambush, and dispersed lines. During the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War, the role of skirmishers grew to include cavalry and infantry units that operated in front of the main army to scout, harass, and delay the enemy, leading to the modern concept of a skirmish line as a key tactical formation.
Throughout the Victorian era (circa 1837–1901), improvements in firearm technology, particularly the widespread adoption of rifled muskets, then breech-loading and eventually repeating rifles, dramatically increased the effectiveness of aimed fire. This led to a gradual shift where the tactics once exclusive to light infantry and skirmishers became the standard for all infantry, moving away from the massed line formations that had dominated earlier eras. This evolution culminated in the fire-from-cover, formation-light fighting style seen by the end of the American Civil War and leading into the trench warfare of World War I.
As most forummers are aware and have an interest is military tactics.
The Boers, who were primarily farmers and hunters, were expert marksmen and skilled in fieldcraft and stalking.
Mounted Infantry: They operated as highly mobile mounted infantry, moving quickly on ponies but fighting on foot from cover.
Guerrilla Warfare: Their commandos used skirmishing and fire-and-movement tactics, relying on individual initiative, concealment, and accurate, long-range fire to ambush British troops and then withdraw quickly. They avoided set-piece battles and close combat whenever possible.
The British Army initially struggled against these tactics, as their doctrine had focused on conventional warfare against less well-armed opponents. After suffering heavy casualties in early battles (the "Black Week" of December 1899), they adapted their approach significantly.
Skirmishing Lines: The British increasingly adopted widely extended lines of skirmishers as a primary offensive formation to present less of a target to the enemy.
Fire and Movement: They implemented fire-and-movement techniques, which involved one line of skirmishers providing covering fire while another advanced.
Mounted Infantry Units: The British raised and extensively used their own mounted infantry and Imperial Yeomanry units to match the Boers' mobility, particularly during the later guerrilla phase of the war.
Dave.....
