"Gettysburg vs. Antietam" Topic

Gettysburg and Antietam are my top favorite CW battles. I have visited both battlefields and really enjoyed them.
If you HAD to choose one to fight in, which would it be? And whose side would you go on? I personally would choose to be a Union soldier at Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. I think Antietam was actually worse than Gettysburg simply because the slaughter lasted one day while Gettysburg was drawn out over three days.

I think Antietam was actually worse than Gettysburg simply because the slaughter lasted one day while Gettysburg was drawn out over three days.

I agree with this. Having been to both also I can think of a few situations that, if I had to choose I would. Being in Buford's Cavalry on the First Day was liable to be relatively safe, Buford fought in extended order and took relatively light casualties while definitely affecting the battle. On the Second being among the 2nd USSS that skirmished against Law and then hunkered down with Company "B" of the 20th ME would be okay as well, you're at a pivotal part of the fight yet again relatively safe (catching a theme here?). For the Third I could go with being part of Stannard's VT Brigade or the 8th Ohio at Pickett's Charge (more properly PPT). As for Antietam, maybe with Barlow at the Sunken Road.

That being said I'd rather read about either in the paper (at my home which would be in the North) than to have had to have been there. I have an intense aversion to dying…

Both tough battles

If I was at Antietam I think being with Toomb's Georgians at Burnside Bridge would be one of the safest places to be – on the Union side any unit in Porter's V Corps, who sat the battle out

For Gettysburg tough to pick a Confederate unit except maybe Stuart's cavalry who showed up late – for the Union Buford's boys or the 8th Ohio for me

Gettysburg, Union side, some outfit in the VI Corps. Wouldn't see much, be pretty safe.

Can you only imagine the grand spectacle unfolding before the Union infantry facing Pickett's Charge at The Angle? A grand review you and your fellow soldiers are tasked to destroy. Awe inspiring? Yes. Terrifying? Yes.

Gettysburg, Union side, some outfit in the VI Corps. Wouldn't see much, be pretty safe.

With the possible exception of some of the VIth Corps units sent to Culp's Hill on the 3rd, still by far though the safest Union Corps to be in.

Can you only imagine the grand spectacle unfolding before the Union infantry facing Pickett's Charge at The Angle?

If you never have read Frank Haskell's "Gettysburg", he was an eyewitness to the attack (he was on Gibbon's staff) and talks about what an incredible sight it was.

For Gettysburg tough to pick a Confederate unit except maybe Stuart's cavalry who showed up late –

Posey's Brigade, Hill's IIIrd Corps, 83 killed and wounded in the four regiments. Of course one killed is bad enough if it's you.

I've always thought that Antietam is tougher to game because of the very small Rebel regiments. Many of them has less than 200 men in them.

Based on the OP question, survival wasn't a requirement. So I want to see the interesting parts, and perhaps even take part in helping to save the Union.

There are several places I would want to see Day 1 w/ Buford or the Iron Brigade- classic defense in depth. Day 2 would have wanted to see 3rd Corps march forward of the Union lines (those who wrote say it was spectacular) or the defense of LRT – great view and key to at least part of the battle. Day 3 either just south of the copse of trees or in the Cavalry field with the Michigan units.

To quote Stonewall:
" my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave."