Sergeant John Ordway
Born: approx. 1775, Dumbarton, New Hanpshire
Sergeant Ordway was recruited from the 1st Infantry Regiment at Kaskaskia, Illinois
Territory. He was the only sergeant in the Corps of Discovery to come from the
regular Army.
Lewis and Clark respected the educated Sergeant Ordway and placed him in charge
of the primary camp including the bookkeeping and paperwork. Initially the men of the
expedition were reluctant to take orders from anyone other than the Captains.
Ordway's orders were openly defied and two of the privates threatened his life. The
men eventually held him in high regard.