The work of exploration on all sides began, the explorers being somewhat handicapped by the death of many of the sledge dogs from disease.
Lieutenant Greely, Dr.Pavy, and Lieutenant Lockwood each led a party, but to the last named belong the honors, for he, with Sergeant Brainard and an Esquimau, made his way northward over ice that looked like a choppy sea suddenly frozen into the rigidity of granite, until he reached latitude 83 deg.

24' north--the most northerly point then attained by any man--and still the record marking Arctic journey for an American explorer.
Winter came again under depressing circumstances.

The first relief ship promised had not arrived, and the disappointment of the men deepened into apprehension lest the second, also, should fail them.

Yet they went through the second winter in good health and unshaken morale, though one can not read such portions of Greely's diary as he has published, without seeing that the irritability and jealousy that seem to be the inevitable accompaniments of long imprisonment in an Arctic station, began to make their appearance.

With the advent of spring the commander began to make his preparations for a retreat to the southward.