Christmas Days With Lewis and Clark (1803-1806): Excerpts From Their Journals and 2006 Annual Events

Spend Christmas with Lewis and Clark. Read about fights and drunkeness (1803); frolicking, dancing, drinking and feasting (1804); rain, Christmas presents and spoiled meat (1805); and speeches and celebrations with family and friends back east (1806).Our website, Lewis and Clark Road Trips, has links to the Online Lewis and Clark Journals in the Historic Campsites section. The Journals are easy to read online because the entries are grouped by date. But if you want to own your own copies, they are available in The Definitive Journals paperback edition through our Amazon Associate Bookstore. Five Lewis and Clark Interpretive Centers across America are celebrating Christmases of the Lewis and Clark Expediton: Arrival at Camp River Dubois, Living History at Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Hartford IL (Dec. 9-10); Christmas Tea, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn ND (Dec. 16); Open House, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Fort Clatsop, Astoria OR (Dec. 16) Wintering Over: "Snuggly Fixed in Their Huts,” LCNHP, Fort Clatsop, Astoria OR (Dec. 27-29); Living History, LCNHP, Fort Clatsop, Astoria OR (Dec.30-Jan. 1); Holiday Candlelight Tours, Locust Grove National Historic Landmark, Louisville KY (Dec 9-10); Meriwether Lewis Dinner hosted by the Homefront Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation at the Monticello Visitors Center. (Dec 15) and the Lewis and Clark Festival the next day (Dec 16).

WOOD RIVER CAMP, HARTFORD, ILLINOIS, 1803

In 1803, the Corps of Discovery were at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers building their winter quarters near the Wood River, on the east (American) side of the Mississippi River.

Clark was wakened by a “Christmas discharge” of gun fire and found that “Some of the party had got drunk (2 fought).”  It was snowing. Several turkeys were killed, and cheese and butter had been obtained in the neighborhood by Shields.

(Volume 2,The Definitive Journals of Lewis & Clark)



fORT MANDAN, WASHBURN, NORTH DAKOTA, 1804

In 1804, the Corps of Discovery were wintering with the Mandan and Hidatsa Indians north of Bismarck, North Dakota on the Missouri River, and were just completing building a winter camp which they named Fort Mandan.

On Christmas day, Clark gave them all “a little Taffia” (rum made from molasses). Three volleys were fired and the flag was raised. Clark wrote “Some men went out to hunt and the Others to Danceing and Continued until 9 oClock P.M. when the frolick ended &c.”

Sgt Whitehouse gives more details: dancing from 2:30-8 PM, “We haveing with us two violins and plenty of musicians in our party.”

Sgt Ordway wrote: “we had the Best to eat that could be had, & continued firing dancing & frolicking dureing the whole day.”

Sgt. Gass wrote the three wives of the interpreters (Jessaume’s wife, and Charbonneau’s two wives) were present at the dancing, “who took no other part than the amusement of looking on.” (Volumes 3, 9, 10, 11,The Definitive Journals of  Lewis & Clark)





FORT CLATSOP, ASTORIA, OREGON, 1805

Once again the men were building a fort, this time on the Pacific Coast—Fort Clatsop, named for the local Clatsop Indians. They began felling trees on December 8th,  and were “Snuggly fixed in their huts” by the end of Christmas Day.  It had been raining hard for days.



Clark wrote: “at day light this morning we we[re] awoke by the discharge of the fire arm of all our party & a Selute, Shoute and a Song which the whole party joined in under our windows, after which they retired to their rooms were Chearfull all the morning.”



The Captains gave a gift of tobacco to those who smoked, and a gift of a silk handkerchief to the others. Clark wrote:  “I recved a presnt of Capt L. of a fleece hosrie Shirt Draws and Socks—. a pr of mockersons of Whitehouse a Small Indian basket of Guterich, two Dozen white weazils tails of the Indian woman, & some black roots of the Indians before their departure....The day proved Showery wet and disagreeable. we would have Spent this day the nativity of Christ in feasting, had we anything either to raise our Sperits or even gratify our appetites, our Diner concisted of pore Elk, So much Spoiled that we eate it thro mear necessity, Some Spoiled pounded fish and a fiew roots."



Sergeant Ordway wrote: “..we have no ardent Spirits, but are all in good health which we esteeem more than all the ardent Spirits in the world”



Sergeant Gass wrote: “Was another cloudy wet day.—This morning we left our camp moved into our huts. At daybreak all the men paraded and fired a round of small arms, wishing the Commanding Officers a merry Christmas.”



Sergeant Whitehouse wrote:  “...but are mostly in good health. A blessing, which we esteem more, than all the luxuries this life can afford, and the party are all thankful to the Supreme Being, for his goodness towards us—hoping he will preserve us in the same, & enable us to return to the United States again in safety.”

(Volumes 6, 9, 10, 11, The Definitive Journals of Lewis & Clark)



LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY; FINCASTLE AND CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA… 1806

ln the Christmas Season of 1806 Captains Lewis and Clark  celebrated their safe return with family and friends in Kentucky and Virginia. They stopped in Louisville to visit with the Clark family and attended a dinner at the Locust Grove home of Clark’s sister. William Clark then went  to Fincastle to be with his young sweetheart, Julia Hancock, and her family. Meriwether Lewis went back home to Charlottesville to be  with his family.  A party at a local tavern was given for Captain Lewis and the Mandan Chief Sheheke and his entourage on December 15th.



The local paper reported the speeches. Lewis’s speech concluded: "With you I trust, that the discoveries we have made, will not long remain unimproved; and that the same sentiment which dictated to our government, an investigation into the resources so liberally bestowed by nature in this fair portion of the globe, will prompt them to avail themselves of those resources, to promote the cause of liberty and the honour of America, and then to relieve distressed humanity, in whatever shape she may present herself."  After the speeches, there was an “excellent dinner; many appropriate toasts were given, the social song went round; and they passed the evening in that spirit of festivity and mirth...”

Read more about it at the Discovering Lewis & Clark website.

Posted by on 12/18/2006 at 10:18 PM

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