These two campaigns, in 1862 and 1864 respectively, have striking similarities. In both cases new and suspect commanders directed an aggressive series of counterattacks consisting mostly of frontal assaults after the failure of maneuver plans, and lost more heavily than did the Union. Both had problems with slow or uncooperative subordinates. Both were attempting to defend a vital city. In each case, the South had a cavalry advantage. There were differences too: Sherman was not McClellan, Hood was not Lee, and both armies had learned to entrench by 1864. Yet, the performances were not that different. Ironically, it was the success of Hood's attack at Gaines' Mill that allowed the Seven Days' campaign to be counted a Confederate success, and put Lee on the road to glory. The Seven Days and Atlanta Campaigns Similarities and Differences Introduction The Seven Days' Campaign 1862 Battles for Atlanta 1864 The Comparison Petersburg/ Richmond Campaign 1864 Wargame Representations and Simulations Back to Table of Contents -- Against the Odds vol. 2 no. 1 Back to Against the Odds List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by LPS. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com * Buy this back issue or subscribe to Against the Odds direct from LPS.