Skirmishers

Skirmishers were generally a loose line of soldiers placed in advance of an army's position. Their task was to detect and delay enemy troop movements, giving time for the army's main forces to respond in an appropriate manner. Normally skirmishers were not expected to hold the line until the last man, but instead worked their way back into the main line.
The term was likely synonymous with light infantry, which the Letherii Army used as skirmishers.Reaper's Gale, Chapter 12
==In Return of the Crimson Guard==
Skirmishers were used in great numbers by the Malazan Empire at the Battle of the Plains. The Malazan skirmishers were largely mobs of untrained civilian militia equipped with javelins and crossbows. They were stationed ahead of the Malaz 4th Army regular Heavy infantry, and directed a chaotic and blistering wave of harassing fire into the approaching Talian League infantry.
==Notes and references==
==External links==
*Skirmisher – Wikipedia article
Category:Malazan military units
it:Schermagliatori