The Partisan Ranger Act was passed by the Confederate States Congress on April 21, 1862. The act was intended as a stimulus for the recruitment of irregular military into the Confederate Army (irregular military refers to any form of non-standard military groups, and can refer to the type of military organization or tactics used). Irregular military units resembled that of guerrilla groups and privateers, and the Confederate military, like the Union, later opposed using irregular warfare as they felt a lack of discipline among the guerrilla groups would spiral out of control.