Explanation: General McClellan was a general of the Union during the US Civil War. While academically gifted and a master organizer, his wartime strategy left much to be desired. Much of the time he grossly overestimated the number of troops the slaver Confederacy had available, and would make his decisions accordingly - against an overwhelmingly superior foe, his actions would be perfectly sensible. Against the actual forces the Confederacy was able to muster, it was a recipe for repeated and bloody stalemates which did nothing but waste the lives of his troops.

Prussian German observers attached to the Union military at the time largely agreed with this point of view - they viewed McClellan as unable and unwilling to take the initiative, and unsuited for wartime command.

McClellan came into constant conflict with US president Abraham Lincoln because of this cautious disposition, and would eventually be replaced.