The Confederate armies did not have a good coherent strategy for the war.
At the beginning of the war, cotton was held off the international market to starve the English, which would then pressure Britain's government to help the Confederates in the war, but that did not happen.
Confederate president, Davis was going to use the strategy George Washington used in the Revolutionary War. That was to keep his armies away from the Northern armies unless he saw hope of a great victory. This was going to be used to wear the patience out of the Union army. But, since this would mean a lot of retreating and giving up territory, the other leaders wouldn't do it, so that strategy was never used.
Another one used was to fight mostly on Confederate soil as much as possible. They were hoping that the English would see that they were trying to defend themselves, and not conquer Union territory, and therefore help them, but this never happened either.
Hope this helps!
