Tides of History Lewis and Clark, the Corps of Discovery, and Writing Collective History: Interview with Author Craig Fehrman
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Apr 23, 2026 
Craig Fehrman, journalist, historian, and author of This Vast Enterprise, retells Lewis and Clark from many viewpoints. He explores newly found archives, the expedition as an ensemble of lives, and how Native polities, maps, and journals reshape the story. Short scenes highlight Ordway, York, slavery dynamics, and shifting Native power.
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Lewis and Clark Was An Ensemble Story
- The Lewis and Clark expedition is best understood as an ensemble story, not just the captains' tale.
- Craig Fehrman used many voices (enlisted men, Native leaders, enslaved York) to capture the full social and material dynamics of the journey.
Reconstructing Ordway's Farm From A For-Sale Ad
- Fehrman reconstructed John Ordway's New Hampshire childhood using a local for-sale farm ad to imagine the poor land he left.
- The ad listed orchards, crops, and outbuildings that made Ordway's push toward better Missouri land vivid.
Perspective Shifts Reveal Hidden Behavior
- Rotating narrative perspectives forced Fehrman to reread journals closely, revealing overlooked details like Ordway omitting Clark's disparaging line.
- That omission shows Ordway acted as a buffer between captains and enlisted men during crises.
