Crossword clues for skirmisher
skirmisher
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Skirmisher \Skir"mish*er\, n. One who skirmishes. Specifically: pl. (Mil.) Soldiers deployed in loose order, to cover the front or flanks of an advancing army or a marching column.
Wiktionary
n. An infantry soldier used for skirmishing.
WordNet
n. someone who skirmishes (e.g., as a member of a scouting party)
Wikipedia
Skirmishers are light infantry or cavalry soldiers stationed to act as a vanguard, flank guard, or rearguard, screening a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They are usually deployed in a skirmish line — an irregular open formation much more spread out in depth and breadth than a traditional line formation. Their purpose is to harass the enemy — engaging them in only light or sporadic combat in order to delay their movement, disrupt their attack, or weaken their morale. Skirmishers' open formations and smaller numbers can give them superior mobility over the regular forces, allowing them to fight on more favorable terms, taking advantage of better position or terrain and quickly withdrawing from any threat of superior enemy forces.
Skirmishers can be either regular army units temporary detached to perform skirmishing, or specialty units specifically armed and trained for such low-level irregular warfare tactics. Light infantry, light cavalry, and irregular units often specialize in skirmishing.
Though often critical in screening the main army from sudden enemy attacks, skirmishers are poor at taking and defending ground from heavy infantry or heavy cavalry. In modern times, following the obsolescence of such heavy troops, all infantry has become indistinguishable from skirmishers, and the term has lost military meaning.
A battle with only light, indecisive combat is often called a skirmish.
Skirmisher may mean:
- Skirmisher, an infantry soldier stationed in front of a main body of troops.
- Skirmisher Publishing LLC
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Usage examples of "skirmisher".
Ahead of him was a brigade of skirmishers, a misted valley, an unsuspecting enemy and, for the moment, silence.
Red-coated and green-jacketed skirmishers ran over the top of the British ridge, then down the long slope where they spread into the skirmishing chain.
The black-coated Brunswickers, some with bloodied sabres, reinforced the Dutch-Belgians who followed their Prince out into the wide expanse of field where the French skirmishers still raked the redcoats with musket-fire.
Before a second fusillade from either side, strenuous efforts by both Wheat and the commander of the South Carolinian skirmishers prevented any more bloodshed.
While there the Fenian forces suddenly appeared, and he was cut off from returning to the steamer by the rapid advance into the village of the Fenian skirmishers.
The Fenian column was formed in three divisions, consisting of an advance guard of skirmishers, a strong support of about 200 men, and the balance of their troops in reserve.
EVENING, MAY 7, 1864 ALL DAY LONG THE SKIRMISHERS AND SHARPSHOOTERS FROM both sides prodded and punched the nervous lines of their enemy.
The logs and stones had evidently been put there for the use of skirmishers, the boys thought, and in an instant they availed themselves of their shelter.
He gave them much the same instructions as he had given Colonel Harness, though because the Madrassi sepoys deployed no skirmishers, he simply warned them that they had one chance of victory and that was to march straight into the enemy fire and, by enduring it, carry their bayonets into the Mahratta ranks.
Colonel Harness, though because the Madrassi sepoys deployed no skirmishers, he simply warned them that they had one chance of victory and that was to march straight into the enemy fire and, by enduring it, carry their bayonets into the Mahratta ranks.
Some Spanish troops clawed their way up the Puebla Heights and fought the French skirmishers on the steep slope, but no infantry and cavalry had appeared on the plain to become meat for the gunners who now had the range perfectly judged.
Northern skirmishers was expected to capture the railbed on their own.
For this particular reenactment, the organizers had choreographed hand-to-hand combat among the skirmishers.
Then Roland deployed them into a line of skirmishers and they went forward into the swath-line in quick rushes, ready to meet enemy fire.
The first two hundred yards of Sacramento Sector passed without incident, then one of the skirmishers sighted a tumblebug parked by a rotor.