The Overland Expedition , also called the Overland Relief Expedition or Point Barrow-Overland Relief Expedition , was a long trip in 1897 -- 8 , by three officers of the United States Coast Guard ( then named the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service ) , with the help of two civilians , using sled dogs and reindeer to rescue more than 250 whalers trapped in the Arctic Ocean by ice around their ships . The Overland Expedition , also called the Overland Relief Expedition or Point Barrow-Overland Relief Expedition , was an expedition in the winter of 1897-1898 by officers of the United States Revenue Cutter Service to save the lives of 265 whalers trapped in the Arctic Ocean by ice around their ships near Point Barrow , Alaska .