The bulk of this volume contains the fullest of the enlisted men's records, the journal of John Ordway. As senior sergeant, Ordway was in command when the captains were absent from the main body of the expedition. He was also the sole member of the party never to miss a day in his journal, for several portions of the crossing, his is the only extant account. Ordway's journal has never before been published with the other records of the venture.