From the earliest records of land warfare until the introduction of breech loading rifles, light infantry acting in a skirmish capacity, had a semi-autonomous battlefield role. The light troops didnt operate within prescribed boundaries. they advanced and retreated on their own initiative and were not subject to nearly the same degree of command control as the formed infantry. Unfortunately, in miniatures games the opposite is generally true. light infantry behave in an optimal manner, capitalizing on each enemy move as if they were in telepathic communication with their commander in chief.

This article will examine the problem of controlling light troops in a realistic way on the wargaming table, present the historical order that governed an adhoc formation of British light companies at Waterloo as an example of the historic flexibility skirmish troops enjoyed, and suggest a gaming procedure to simulate skirmish movement. Although the example is from the Napoleonic period, the gaming procedure is equally applicable to any period that uses light troops in a skirmish role.

In antiquity, the poorest armored troops, either mercenaries or men recruited from the poorest classes, fought with missile weapons including slings, bows, and javelins. their role was to screen their own formed infantry and if possible harass and disorganize the opposing formed infantry. For example, the Greek psiloi, or light troops, protected the flanks of the phalanx and included archers and slingers recruited from Crete and Rhodes. By Roman times many of the light troops or auxiliaries could fight in both formed and unformed ranks. The shower of projectiles hurled by such as the Balearic slingers or Ligurian light infantry would proceed the main assault of the massed legion.

In the Napoleonic era, the role of the light infantry, acting in skirmish formation, had achieved considerable tactical importance. The most active and intelligent men were trained as light infantry. Thus, light infantry became picked troops. Indeed, in the British army the Light Division was considered the elite of the army. The role of light infantry remained very similar to their role in ancient times; harass and demoralize the opposing infantry, shoot down their officers and artillery men, and pave the way for the massed assault of the formed infantry.

Furthermore, as in prior times the light infantry dispersed along the battlefront and were not as controllable as the formed units to their rear. They were trained to use their own initiative, responding to their leaders commands as signaled by bugle calls, whistles, and drums.

The following is taken from a letter of Major John Pratt, a lieutenant of the British 30th regiment at the time of Waterloo, as reported in Sibornes Waterloo Letters (letter number 138, page 327; London, 1891.):

The orders delivered to me upon that occasion as Adjutant of the Light Battalion by Major-General Sir C. Halket were to the following effect. To cover and protect our Batteries. To establish ourselves at all times as much in advance as might e compatible with prudence. To preserve considerable intervals between our extended files for greater security from the fire of the enemys Batteries. To show obstinate resistance against Infantry of the same description, but to attempt no formation or offer useless opposition to charges of Cavalry, but to retire in time upon the squares in our rear, moving in a direct line without any reference to Regiments or Nations. When the charge was repulsed to assume our ground.