J.M.: The detachment orders that were issued at Camp Dubois and at St. Charles and over at Fort Clatsop make clear that this platoon was operating by the numbers, by the book.

S.A.: Absolutely. They were operating by the numbers, by the book, as you say. So and so is to be up front on the keel boat, warding off floating logs coming down the Missouri River. Others of the sergeants would be making sure that the men at their oars, or the men pulling the boat along, or pulling it with cords, were doing their duty. In every way, these guys were under orders to do what it was that they were doing. Go out and get us some elk. Go out and get some deer for us. Go out and look over that country. Go up that Yellowstone River and come back midday and report on what you find out up there.

Lewis and Clark were models of captains, they knew how to push those men to, but not beyond, the breaking point. They knew how to get more out of those men than the men had ever thought that they had it in themselves to deliver. They got more out of each other too, Lewis and Clark did. And that is exactly what the Marines are looking for in a Second Leutenent leading a platoon in the 21st Century. That is exactly what the Army wants its platoon commanders to be able to do. That's exactly what everybody who is associated with the military in any way wants to have as the junior officer. Lewis was a Captain, Clark was a Captain, these are junior officers. That's what they want out of those junior officers and that's what Lewis and Clark gave, and that's what Jefferson knew that he was going to get from them.

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