I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Light infantry. I would love to be able to use them properly and when they do play a pivotal role in battle I feel vindicated in not having just recruited more cavalry or line inf. My performance with them tends to be hit and miss though.

My problem is essentially ensuring the survivability of the unit, whilst ensuring that they play a useful part in the battle that is also sufficiently daring to live up their reputiation.

I have a particular soft spot for those units that remain hidden whilst moving (native american indian muskets & bowmen, Pandurs, Kurdish hillmen...) and can hence sneak up on un-guarded or isolated artillery units -but that involves my units also being out on a limb -and alone in the face of a cavalry charge...

Ranging ahead of a deployed battle line (as opposed to on the flanks) gives mixed results -again probably because i leave them unsupported or don't follow up their advance with that of my main line.

When I have tried commiting a protective force for light infantry (e.g. a couple of dragoons, standing off), I maybe get a bit over confident as what i intend as light skirmishes on the flanks can sometimes turn into the main engagements of the battlefield, as more and more troops get sucked in.

Anyone have any particular advice or little strategies/tactics for using light inf?

Also, anyone actually use the dispersed order formation? I find it buggy in that if the unit fall back in skirmish order, they end up facing the wrong direction... What does this formation actually do other than reduce the casualties per hit from cannon fire? Does it provide any bonuses to hiding, damage or moralle?

I've never had the occasion to use a fougasse either -they sound nasty though...