Confused on game mechanics

[BigDuke66]

I doubt that skirmishers work that way. At least in fire combat having skirmishers in the same hex brings you nothing, that they bring anything for melee is doubtful.
But I do not know how melee damage is applied so maybe a lot damage hit the skirmisher and not the battalion and so you were not able to drive the battalion out of the hex.

Besides this anyone should internalize that the normal combat calculations force the attacker to have 2/3 more men than the attacker to achieve even odds. So attacking 700 men would need 1167 men, of course you can lower the need by achieving certain modifiers for the attacking unit:
1. Attack in column formation(unless your British).
2. Do not fire your weapons.
3. Have a leader join the melee.