Well, you can serve it much better by watching the movements of the enemy, and carrying word of it to the commander.

Then, sometimes, we can have a little enterprise of our own--cut off a post of the enemy, or manage to decoy them into lanes where we know their guns will stick fast.
"It is not size and strength that are most necessary in war; but quickness, alertness, and watchfulness.

You know that, already, the leaders have found that nothing can persuade the men to keep guard, or to carry out outpost duty.

If we do this, even if we do nothing else, we shall be serving the cause much better than if we were to join in a general rush upon the enemy." "But we shall have no muskets with us," one of the boys objected.
"Nor would you want them.

You would have to move about quickly, and guns would be terribly inconvenient, if you had to push your way through a hedge or a close thicket.