John Ordway

Patrick Gass of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was elected sergeant, went through.

John Ordway of New Hampshire was elected sergeant, went through.

Robert Frazier of Vermont went through.

Thomas P. Howard of Massachusetts went through.

So forty-five there were in all to start.

Except York, those who were going through had been sworn in as privates in the United States Army to serve during the expedition or until discharged on the way, if so happened.

Charles Floyd, one of the young Kentuckians, Nathaniel Pryor, his cousin, and John Ordway, enrolled at Kaskaskia from among the New Hampshire company, were appointed sergeants.

For outfit, they had their flintlock rifles, especially manufactured, flintlock pistols, hunting knives, powder contained in lead canisters or pails to be melted into bullets when emptied, tents, tools, provisions of pork, flour, etc., warm extra clothing for winter, old Cruzat's fiddle, George Gibson's fiddle, medicines, including the new kindpox with which to vaccinate the Indians, the captain's scientific instruments, a wonderful air gun that shot forty times without reloading, and a cannon or blunderbuss.

At Fort Kaskaskia, I met more trouble in the shape of an obstinate commanding officer, Captain Bissell, whom I had encountered several times during my tenure as paymaster for the 1st Infantry.

All you want is for me to transfer my two best men, Sergeant John Ordway and Private Patrick Gass, to your unit.

Why, Lewis, why?

I told you once, Captain, Ordway is an experienced noncom.