While I might have sipped a little champagne last night (perhaps more in celebration of a 101 blood sugar reading more than anything else) my hero Meriwether Lewis had no means for such a celebration in 1806. Here is the captain's journal entry 200 years ago today:
Captain Lewis:
January 1, 1806
"This morning I was awakened at an early hour by the discharge of a volley of small arms, which was fired by our party in front of our quarters to usher in the New Year. This was the only mark of respect which we had it in our power to pay this celebrated day. Our repast of this day, though better than that of Christmas, consisted principally in the anticipation of the 1st day of January, 1807, when, in the bosom of our friends, we hope to participate in the mirth and hilarity of the day; and when, with the zest given by the recollection of the present, we shall completely, both mentally and corporally, enjoy the repast which the hand of civilization has prepared for us. At present we were content with eating our boiled elk and wappato, and solacing our thirst with our only beverage, pure water. Two of our hunters who set out this morning returned in the evening having killed two buck elk. They presented Captain Clark and myself each a marrowbone and tongue, on which we supped.
We were uneasy with respect to two of our men, Willard and Wiser, who were dispatched on the 28th ult. with the salt makers, and were directed to return immediately. Their not having returned induces us to believe it probable that they have missed their way."
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No champagne! Their only beverage pure water. No party. Two missing expedition members. No wonder Lewis couldn't wait for 1807.
1 comment:
boiled elk and wappato! ham, did you prepare that? if you're going to do a re-enactment...well....
whatever happened to those two guys?
happy new year, you freak!
:-)
amy
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