David Brainard; 1881-84 Lady Franklin Bay expedition
David Legge Brainard was born on December 21, 1856. A native of Norway, New York, Brainard was raised and educated in Norway and graduated from the State Normal School in Cortland, New York. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1876 and received his officer’s commission in 1886.
Prior to his notable arctic explorations, Brainard served in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and served at Fort Keogh, Montana Territory during the Great Sioux War of 1876. In May of 1877, Brainard fought in the Battle of Little Muddy Creek, Montana, where he was wounded. In August of 1877, Brainard was assigned to escort William Tecumseh Sherman and his party on an inspection tour of Yellowstone National Park. He was promoted to corporal in October 1877, and sergeant in July 1879.
Brainard: Arctic Explorer
In 1880, Brainard was selected for the Howgate expedition, which started for Greenland in July 1880. The Howgate Arctic Expedition was tasked with geographic exploration of Greenland in advance of further Arctic colonization. The Army and the Navy withdrew funding when the vessel, the Gulnare, was deemed unfit for travel. The expedition instead found private funding and departed in July of 1880. The expedition turned back after a heavy storm damaged the Gulnare, rendering them unable to continue North.
In 1881, Brainard volunteered for duty with the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, commanded by Adolphus Greely. The idea for the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition arose when a member of the Austrian navy proposed a joint international effort to gather scientific data from the Arctic. The plan included fourteen Arctic weather stations that would gather meteorological data. The United States Congress agreed to fund two weather stations: one at Point Barrow, Alaska, and the other along the shores of Lady Franklin Bay in Northern Canada. All the men of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition had been requested to keep journals by the U.S. government who had sent them up to the Arctic.
After several failed resupply missions, the Lady Franklin Bay expedition quickly unraveled into a harrowing journey of survival and a battle against the Arctic elements. During the winter of 1883-1884, Brainard kept a meticulous diary, documenting the months of starvation and limited supplies that faced Greely’s and his twenty four men. Brainard’s writing captures the severe challenges faced by the team, including dwindling supplies, harsh weather, and the struggle for survival amidst isolation. Brainard’s detailed accounts provide insight into the resilience and desperation of the crew, revealing the human cost of exploration.
Works Cited
Glenn M. Stein FRGS, "A Historical Sketch of the Life of General David L. Brainard, U.S. Army," Polar Times, July 2008 and January 2009.