What were the similarities, differences of these Civil War battles? 1. First Bull Run 2. Gettysburg 3. Antietam

Battles of First Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Gettysburg.

Similarities: C.S.A. was outnumbered by U.S.A. at all three battles.

Differences:  Each battle had a different outcome;, C.S.A. won one, one was a draw, U.S.A. won one.

At First Bull Run (First Manassas), the troops on both sides were inexperienced at war.  Gen. McDowell, U.S.A., was a good general, but his inexperienced troops broke and ran, so that he lost the battle.  Gen. J. E. Johnston, C.S.A., was also a good general.  The C.S.A. troops were not experienced, but they were fighting on their own soil for their homes and hearths, so they did not break and run.  There were charges by the U.S.A. and countercharges by the C.S.A.

At Antietam (Sharpsburg), a good general (Lee, C.S.A.) faced a poor general (McClellan, U.S.A.) and fought his vastly superior army to a draw.  McClellan was a good organizer and a good trainer of troops, but a very poor fighting general.  The U.S.A. charged across open ground at the C.S.A. which was positioned on slightly higher ground.

At Gettysburg, the troops on both sides were experienced at war and both sides were led by good generals.  The U.S.A. greatly outnumbered the C.S.A. at this battle.  The C.S.A. charged across open ground at the U.S.A. which was positioned on a hill top.