Elleda Wilson: No mirth or hilarity

Dec. 29—Ever wonder how Meriwether Lewis (pictured, left) and William Clark (pictured, right) spent New Year's Day of 1806 at Fort Clatsop?

From Clark's journal: "This morning I was awoke at an early hour by the discharge of a volley of small arms, which were 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, tho' better than that of Christmas, consisted principally in the anticipation of the first day of January, 1806 , when in the bosom of our friends, we hope to participate in the mirth and hilarity of the day ... At present we were content with eating our boiled elk and wapato, and solacing our thirst with our only beverage, pure water."

And, as a last tidbit, unhappy news for the corps of an impending crackdown: "Our fortification being now complete," Clark concluded, "we issued an order for the more exact and uniform discipline and government of the garrison."

Here's hoping your New Year's Day is more palatable than theirs.