Adolphus W. Greely was severely wounded in the Civil War, during which he was advanced from private to brevet major. He continued in the army following the war, volunteering in 1881 for an Arctic expedition planned for the International Polar Year (1882-1883). In command of 25 men, he arrived on the eastern shore of Ellesmere Island in August 1881. They established Fort Conger, from which scientific observations were to be made. The following May they arrived at 83 degrees 24 minutes north latitude, their most northern point. Supplies failed to reach them and Greely retreated south to Cape Sabine. When relief arrived in June 1884, only Greely and five men had survived.