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During December 1804 the Corps of Discovery experienced intense cold weather: December 8th - "Thermometer stood at 12 ° below zero with a northwest wind". December 9th - "continued cold" December 11th - "Mercury in thermometer stood at 21° below zero which is 53° below the freezing point and getting colder". December 12th - "Weather so cold that we do not think it prudent to turn out to hunt". December 13th - "Thermometer stands this morning at 20° below zero". The extreme cold temperatures continued until the 19th of December, when the cold snap subsided.
Christmas Day - Tuesday December 25, 1804 The party had informed the Indians not to visit them as it was one of their great "medicine days". Sergeant John Ordway writes: " we fired the Swivels at day break & each man fired one round. We enjoyed a merry cristmas dureing the day & evening untill nine oClock - all in peace & quietness". Captain Clark writes: " I was awakened before Day by a discharge of 3 platoons from the party, the men merrily Disposed, I gave them all a little Taffia (rum)".
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