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48 the Little Wabash as made "through incredible difficulties, far surpassing anything that any of us had ever experienced." The Letter breathes the spirit of the youth, for it was written in 1779; the Memoir ever reads like an old man's reminiscences. Clark's diplomacy in securing the loyalty of his men through great discouragements indicates a high order of the best qualities of a military commander. "My object now," he writes, "was to keep the men in spirits." He allowed the men to kill game and hold typical Indian feasts after the hard day's wet march. Before their rousing fires, with venison and bear meat savoring the air, little wonder the night brought partial forgetfulness of the day's fatigue. The four companies took turns at being hosts; the company on duty each day being supplied with horses on which to transport the game brought down. And throughout every day's march Clark, and his equally courageous officers, made light of all difficulties, and "putting on the woodsman, shouting now and then and Running as much through the mud and water as any of them. Thus, Insensibly, without a mur-