Under the immense increase which is now taking place in the length of range and accuracy in effect of small arms, there must, of necessity, come an increase of the importance of skill in skirmishing. The reconnoissances of mounted staff officers, the patrolling, skirmishing, and menacing of charges by small bodies of cavalry, and even the action of artillery on that very large proportion of the surface of the earth in which vision is limited to at most one thousand yards, will be greatly controlled by the accurate and distant infantry marksman. Nay, even columns and lines of infantry will now only be able to repel his power of destructive annoyance by meeting him with troops in extended order. Of old, if he pressed too near to a closed body of infantry, an impatient volley might sweep him and his comrades into annihilation, but now, ensconced in his distant cover, he may “beard the lion in his den,” a battalion of infantry in position, with something like impunity.

With this distant power of the individual skirmisher, however, there stand connected increased difficulties of combination with his surrounding and supporting comrades. Such general unity of action is most important at times for reasonable security, and always for the production of general and total effects.

These advantages must depend, more than ever, upon well-impressed individual acquaintance with the essential principles of good skirmishing.

Under these considerations the following pages, which were received at the time of their first publication with public^[1] and private testimonials of approbation, are reprinted, with some corrections and additions to make them suitable to the present standard of military efficiency, and with remarks which may be useful, at this period, upon light infantry drill, rifle practice, dress, and appointments.

February, 1852.