skirmisher

plural skirmishers

1. An infantry soldier used for skirmishing.

   The action was commenced by emulous skirmishers, who crawled from the woodsides, and annoyed each other from coverts of ridge, stump, and stone heap.

   1866, George Alfred Townsend, Campaigns of a non-combatant

   1 more example

   A skirmisher had fired three shots at the Captain -- the third striking his horse. He dismounted to see how much the animal was injured, and had just placed one foot in the stirrup to remount when the same man fired again. The ball this time struck the Captain in the back -- he raised one hand and fell to the ground dead.

   1863 June 14, “THE GREAT CAVALRY BATTLE.; Further Interesting Details from a Special Correspondent. The Part Taken by the Column Un- der Gen. Gregg. The Battle near Brandy Station. Dashing Charges and Hand to Hand Fighting. Narrow Escape of the Rebel Gen Stuart. INCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES.”, in The New York Times