Guerrilla warfare relied on intelligence, deception, and hitting the enemy's most vulnerable points. Key tactics included: Guerrilla Warfare | American Battlefield Trust
: The most feared and lawless, these individuals or small groups hid in foliage ("the bush") to ambush soldiers and civilians alike. They often engaged in robbery and murder, using the war as a cover for personal vendettas. Core Tactics and Methods American Civil War Guerrilla Tactics
Historians generally categorize Civil War irregulars into three distinct groups: Guerrilla warfare relied on intelligence
: Often self-organized bands not officially enrolled in the army, these fighters focused on defending their home territories. While they claimed to support the Union or Confederacy, they frequently lacked formal military discipline. they frequently lacked formal military discipline.