The British captured large seaports but could not control the countryside.
The North's strategy was called a persistent strategy. They wanted to capture and occupy southern territory to deny it's benefits to the South, that being manpower and materials. Later they adopted a raiding strategy when Sheridan and Sherman devastated the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and central Georgia in order to make it harder for the South to get materials. The north strategy also wanted to take control of the Mississippi river, the Confederate capital of Richmond, and take advantage of main railroads so when in battle they could easily travel from place to place to get more soldiers or equiptment.
The south first held to a defensive strategy, which ment they wanted allies (British and the French, who needed the South's cotton exports) would see the North at the agressor and would come to help the South. Later the South adopted a raiding strategy and sought to take the war to the north by launching two invasions ,and captureing materials, destroying rail centers, and raiding cities. In hopes of bringing the North to peace by fanning the northern anti-war sentiment.