Missouri River bottoms, Knife River area (North Dakota)

25th December Christmass Tuesday [1804]

"I was awakened before Day by a discharge of 3 platoons from the Party and the french, the men merrily Disposed, I give them all a little Taffia [rum or spirits] and permited 3 Cannon fired, at raising Our flag, Some men went out to hunt & the Others to Danceing and Continued untill 9 oClock P,M, when the frolick ended &c."

William Clark

Here "platoon" is used in its old sense of volleys, or a group of men firing in unison.

The above quote is taken directly from the Gary Moulton, University of Nebraska version of the Lewis and Clark Journals.

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