"As full lines of battle could not be handled through the thick wood, I ordered the advance of the six brigades by heavy skirmish lines, to be followed by stronger supporting lines"

During the American Civil War, large-scale battles were often influenced by the environmental constraints of the landscape. Dense woods, such as those encountered at the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864, posed significant challenges to commanders accustomed to deploying their troops in traditional linear formations, designed for open fields. James Longstreet, a senior Confederate general, referenced these difficulties by explaining his tactical adjustments in response to the surrounding terrain.

Longstreet chose not to move his entire force forward in rigid, aligned battle lines, recognizing that the thick forest would disrupt cohesion and command control. Instead, he directed his six brigades to advance as "heavy skirmish lines", which consisted of soldiers spread out in a looser, more flexible formation. These skirmish lines were tasked with probing for enemy positions, maintaining fluid movement, and taking advantage of the cover provided by the trees. In such terrain, closely packed formations would become vulnerable to ambushes and would struggle to maintain order. Skirmishing troops, on the other hand, could more effectively navigate obstacles, return fire quickly, and adapt to unexpected resistance.

Behind these lighter, forward troops, Longstreet arranged "stronger supporting lines". These were more substantial bodies of soldiers ready to reinforce the skirmishers if they met heavy resistance, exploit breakthroughs, or stabilize the line in case of any setback. This layered approach allowed for the preservation of combat power while still exerting pressure on the enemy. In essence, Longstreet’s tactic was an early form of the infantry assault by successive waves: initial contact made by more agile troops, followed by the massed employment of larger units to achieve decisive results. This adaptation underscores how commanders were forced to continually reassess and modify their tactics, relying on flexibility and prudent use of their forces amid the unpredictable and chaotic conditions of Civil War battles fought in difficult environments.