Whiskey
Journal 2006 09 06
Whiskey
The Fourth of July 1805 marked the last liquor consumed by the men of the Corps of Discovery. A few days ago they were given enough tobacco to get them to St. Louis. Today, they each have a shot of whiskey after they meet another trader coming up the Missouri River from St. Louis.
“…we purchased a gallon of whiskey of this man [NB: promised to pay Choteau who would not receive any pay] and gave to each man of the party a dram which is the first Spiritious licquor which had been tasted by any of them Since the 4 of July 1805.”
“Several of the party exchanged leather for linen Shirts and beaver for Corse hats.” After covering seventy-three miles today the men know they are coming home. They evidently want to look the part. Exchanging buckskins for linen and beaver pelts and hats for “coarse hats.”
The wilderness required a different style of life than did civilization. And this mighty river was carrying them from the place of its birth to first the sharp edge of civilization and onto the heart of western man captured in our nation’s capitol.
Don’t you wonder if the effect of the alcohol loosened the men’s thoughts and lips as they spoke of home? Were they bragging or fearful? Were they hopeful of great reward or concerned that the nation had abandoned them to the grave? Did any have girlfriends they hoped had waited a year longer than they may have expected? How many had worried mothers? How many would have proud fathers?
A gallon of whiskey among about thirty men. Nobody could get in too much trouble at two ounces each. Funny how a smoke or chew and a drink brings a taste of the life the men had grown up knowing. Familiar. Comfortable. At this point, longed for.
Do you wonder if these soldiers realized they had become mountain men somewhere along their journey? They had all proven themselves as river men or woodsmen or tradesmen or more to qualify for the expedition. Could they see the changes in one another? Could they see the changes in themselves? Many questions. Most of the answers lay in St. Louis and beyond.
“I sought in my heart to drag my flesh with wine, yet leading my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, until I might see where the good for the sons of men might be, what they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.” (Ecclesiastes 2:3)
King Solomon asked the same questions millennia before and it was recorded for all to ponder and grow wise from. We ask the same question today as must have been asked during these days on the Missouri. “What are we going to do with the rest of our lives?” We will talk about the fate of the men later this fall. Today people young and old still wonder, “What am I going to do when I grow up?”
How about you? Have you answered that question?
Proceed on.
Whiskey
The Fourth of July 1805 marked the last liquor consumed by the men of the Corps of Discovery. A few days ago they were given enough tobacco to get them to St. Louis. Today, they each have a shot of whiskey after they meet another trader coming up the Missouri River from St. Louis.
“…we purchased a gallon of whiskey of this man [NB: promised to pay Choteau who would not receive any pay] and gave to each man of the party a dram which is the first Spiritious licquor which had been tasted by any of them Since the 4 of July 1805.”
“Several of the party exchanged leather for linen Shirts and beaver for Corse hats.” After covering seventy-three miles today the men know they are coming home. They evidently want to look the part. Exchanging buckskins for linen and beaver pelts and hats for “coarse hats.”
The wilderness required a different style of life than did civilization. And this mighty river was carrying them from the place of its birth to first the sharp edge of civilization and onto the heart of western man captured in our nation’s capitol.
Don’t you wonder if the effect of the alcohol loosened the men’s thoughts and lips as they spoke of home? Were they bragging or fearful? Were they hopeful of great reward or concerned that the nation had abandoned them to the grave? Did any have girlfriends they hoped had waited a year longer than they may have expected? How many had worried mothers? How many would have proud fathers?
A gallon of whiskey among about thirty men. Nobody could get in too much trouble at two ounces each. Funny how a smoke or chew and a drink brings a taste of the life the men had grown up knowing. Familiar. Comfortable. At this point, longed for.
Do you wonder if these soldiers realized they had become mountain men somewhere along their journey? They had all proven themselves as river men or woodsmen or tradesmen or more to qualify for the expedition. Could they see the changes in one another? Could they see the changes in themselves? Many questions. Most of the answers lay in St. Louis and beyond.
“I sought in my heart to drag my flesh with wine, yet leading my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, until I might see where the good for the sons of men might be, what they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.” (Ecclesiastes 2:3)
King Solomon asked the same questions millennia before and it was recorded for all to ponder and grow wise from. We ask the same question today as must have been asked during these days on the Missouri. “What are we going to do with the rest of our lives?” We will talk about the fate of the men later this fall. Today people young and old still wonder, “What am I going to do when I grow up?”
How about you? Have you answered that question?
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 11:27 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home