President Lincoln one day remarked to a number of personal friends who
had called upon him at the White House:
“General McClellan’s tardiness and unwillingness to fight the enemy or
follow up advantages gained, reminds me of a man back in Illinois who
knew a few law phrases but whose lawyer lacked aggressiveness. The man
finally lost all patience and springing to his feet vociferated, ‘Why
don’t you go at him with a fi. fa., a demurrer, a capias, a surrebutter,
or a ne exeat, or something; or a nundam pactum or a non est?’
“I wish McClellan would go at the enemy with something--I don’t care
what. General McClellan is a pleasant and scholarly gentleman. He is
an admirable engineer, but he seems to have a special talent for a
stationary engine.”