Fort Mandan, North Dakota — Joseph Whitehouse: December 25, 1804

we ushred [in] the morning with a discharge of the Swivvel,
and one round of Small arms of all the party, then another
from the Swivel, then Cap! Clark presented a glass of brandy
to each man of the party, we hoisted the american flag, and
each man had another Glass of brandy, the men prepared
one of the rooms and commenced dancing, at lo oC we had
another Glass of brandy, at one a gun was fired as a Signal for
diner, half past two another gun was fired to assemble at the
dance, and So we kept it up in a jovel manner untill eight oC.
at night, all without the comp^ of the female Seek, except
three Squaws the Intreptirs wives and they took no part with
us only to look on. agreeable to the officers request the
natives all Stayed at their villages all day.