Who skilled soldiers and outstanding generals north or south?

Answer 1

At the beginning of the war, the South had a distinct advantage in experienced officers. Most of the professional US Officer Corps was made up of southern aristocrats. Following Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, the southern states began drilling their state militias in fear of a slave rebellion or other armed conflict. So the advantage in trained personnel went to the South at the start of the war. Gradually, however, the North learned from experience. McClellan took the green volunteers and turned them into a highly competent force, especially after continual encounters with Southern forces. Grant learned how to command, and Sherman, along with Sheridan, Mead, and other northern commanders learned by trial and error until they became the equal of the southern commanders. Eventually the Anaconda Strategy and he overwhelming material advantage of the North came into play, and attrition worked in favor of the North.