Scourge of War Boards

Picked up Waterloo a few days ago and so far it just hasn't clicked with me like Gettysburg did but that's another issue really.

I'm interested to know a bit more about how skirmishing works in the game. All i see so far is my AI commanders throwing out skirmishers all the time even when directly engaged in a stand up fight with another regiment, is this normal? what advantage do they have? I'm not great on my knowledge of Napoleonic warfare but my understanding is that skirmishers were only used before the main lines clashed then they reformed into their regiments to fight in line?

They would be thrown out ahead of a brigade or battalion to screen both an advance and a defensive position. When closely threatened they often withdrew to the flanks of the parent unit to take up a position from which to give harassing fire. They might also return to their parent unit as wel as you mentioned. It was quite frequent in the French army to throw out entire battalions in skirmish order, either fusiliers or chasseurs - the two troop types were completely interchangeable by late in the wars (after about 1810). The only difference between Ligne and Leger regiments was their name and their uniform.

Is it possible (in game) to send a battalion out as skirmisher, by TC'ing the unit?
Best regards...