What was the name of the tactic used by the Americans when they would appear suddenly, fire, and disappear

The tactic used by the Americans was called guerrilla warfare tactics

Since the American colonists were outnumbered and undertrained by the standards of the British Red Coats, they turned to a tactic called hit-and-run, consisting of using rifles (slower to reload than muskets yet shooting more accurately at longer ranges), showing up by surprise at a relatively safe distance, discharge their weapons aiming especially at the officers, and then run for cover in the depth of the woods.