Skirmishers in SOW

[Kerflumoxed]

While playing the Tutorial this morning, I attempted to have one of three regiments in a line of battle to deploy as skirmishers. Rather then the skirmishers advancing forward in accordance with the manual, the skirmishers remained on "line" with the rest of the brigade while the remaining members of the designated regiment retreated! Essentially, the skirmishers are supposed to ADVANCE, sometimes as far as 500 yards in front of the regiment while the main body of the regiment remains in place. It was common for one or two companies to retire, sometimes as much as 300 yards, as a reserve.

Will this be corrected in a "patch?"

Thanks

J

[ADukes]

Kerflumoxed wrote:

Rather then the skirmishers advancing forward in accordance with the manual, the skirmishers remained on "line" with the rest of the brigade while the remaining members of the designated regiment retreated!

In accordance with the manual the whole brigade has to be in skirmish formation (Skirmish formation button on the commander's toolbar), then one regiment will be in front of the rest of the brigade.

[Kerflumoxed]

ADukes wrote:

Kerflumoxed wrote:

Rather then the skirmishers advancing forward in accordance with the manual, the skirmishers remained on "line" with the rest of the brigade while the remaining members of the designated regiment retreated!

In accordance with the manual the whole brigade has to be in skirmish formation (Skirmish formation button on the commander's toolbar), then one regiment will be in front of the rest of the brigade.

Dear Mr. ADukes - Thank you very much for your expeditious response to my query! Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any reference in ACW manuals to Brigade Skirmish Drill. All the manuals in my collection including Scott, Hardee, Gilham, Baxter, etc., do include Skirmish Drill for the Company and Battalion (or Regiment). Further, Volume III: Evolutions of a Brigade and Corps D'Armee (1862) (AKA Caseys' Revised Tactics) only include references to the "Skirmishers of each Battalion" and these have been noted as being "...suspended and will not be taught."

Nevertheless, my point is that the Skirmishers are habitually directed forwarded or to the flanks and noted: "When skirmishers are thrown out to clear the way for, and to protect the advance." As I stated earlier, the skirmishers should be "thrown out" in front of the Brigade rather then on "line" with the rest of the Brigade. For example, in this game, I would suspect that most will want the Skirmishers to advance as described in Gilham's paragraph 264, et.al.

For example, during the Tutorial, I had aligned three regiments along a rail fence with two brigades facing an open field while the third faced a wooded area. Accordingly, I only had a need to send Skirmishers forward into the woods to ascertain if there were any enemy in my front. While attempting to deploy Skirmishers into the woods, they remained in line and the rest of the regiment fell back. Quite simply, this is incorrect! The remaining companies of the battation should have remained on line while the Skirmishers advanced, as they did in TC2M. My question: Will this be corrected in a future "patch?"

BTW, I would greatly appreciate your source of information regarding "In accordance with the manual the whole brigade has to be in skirmish formation..."

Thank you for your observations.

J

[Jim]

Jack,
He means the game manual, not the drill manual. If you click the Skirmish button as Brigade CO, then a regiment will advance to cover as much of the brigade front as they have troops for. They will also move with the brigade if you order the whole brigade to move. If you just give the order to an individual regiment, then they will form into skirmish formation, but will not be linked to the rest of the brigade.

-Jim

[Kerflumoxed]

Jim wrote:

Jack,
He means the game manual, not the drill manual. If you click the Skirmish button as Brigade CO, then a regiment will advance to cover as much of the brigade front as they have troops for. They will also move with the brigade if you order the whole brigade to move. If you just give the order to an individual regiment, then they will form into skirmish formation, but will not be linked to the rest of the brigade.

-Jim

I see! Thanks for the insight.

At the same time, why do the Skirmishers remain on the line and the rest of the Battalion fall-back when a Battalion is selected and Skirmisher button selected? :blink:

Thanks, Jim

J

[UglyElmo]

I think you might have to make a movement forward to where you want the skirmisher to go, for the main line to stay put. I will see if it works that way and let you know.

This would explain why the skirmisher stays put and the rest move back, if it is expecting a movement forward for the skirmisher. Let me know if you find out any more as well.

[Mayonaise]

they probably moved back so the units aren't on top of each other. move the unit forward and then put them in skirmish formation

[ADukes]

Kerflumoxed wrote:

At the same time, why do the Skirmishers remain on the line and the rest of the Battalion fall-back when a Battalion is selected and Skirmisher button selected?

That's how the formation is designed. The whole thing depends on the position of the flag bearer.

[Garnier]

They'd be a lot harder to use if the skirmishers were actually far in front of the flag. It's best for all the men to be behind the flag, so when you double click somewhere, you can be sure the men will all be at or behind the point you click.

[Kerflumoxed]

Mayonaise wrote:

they probably moved back so the units aren't on top of each other. move the unit forward and then put them in skirmish formation

Thanks for the comment. Based upon the current execution of the game, I think you may have the historically incorrect solution.

In actual practice, the Skirmishers are supposed to advance forward to cover the front of the company, battalion or brigade.

Thanks,

J