In addition to telling the story of the generalship of George B. McClellan, Catton imparts information on weaponry in use during the war and how these weapons dictated the results. He also relates many behind-the-scene events, giving ink to the names of a sizable number of lesser known generals, and officers. Included also is excellent topographical descriptions that help the reader understand the how and sometimes the why of battles.

McClellan comes across as a deeply caring man who genuinely loved his men and wanted so badly to protect them from danger that he was unable to bring himself to take advantage of great opportunities to end the war because of his hesitations. The result was that a war which could very easily have been won at Antietam in September, 1862 went on for an additional 2 1/2 years, costing more lives and human suffering than necessary.

In McClellan's defense, his information on the size of the Confederate forces was multiplied sometimes four and five times their true size by false estimates provided by Pinkerton, his spy. The result was that it appeared he had little or no chance to overcome his enemy, so he didn't try. On the other hand, Catton shows clearly that had the war ended at Antietam, it most likely would have ended in a draw, with independence and continued slavery for the South, thereby blunting the one good thing that came out of the war, the Emancipation Proclamation. This, of course, hinted at by Catton, is the opinion of the side that won, as they are always the one that write history.

As to the picture of the leadership of both the Union and the Confederacy, Catton is very uncomplimentary of that of the North, and only slightly more complimentary of the South. He also shows why the leadership quality gap was so wide, and why, in spite of that gap, the Union won.