Role in the Civil War
Tubman’s dedication to eliminating slavery led her into South Carolina during the Civil War, where she served as nurse, scout, spy, and cook in the Union army. “Thanks…to her gender, race, and diminutive stature, Tubman was able to move behind Confederate lines and gather information without being noticed” (Chism, 2005, p. 47). She provided nursing care to black soldiers and newly freed slaves who arrived at Union camps. Tubman became the first woman to lead an armed military raid when she directed the Second South Carolina Black regiment up the Combahee River, disrupting Confederate outposts, and damaging stockpiles of cotton, weapons and food. “[As a result of] that one raid…more than 700 [slaves]…celebrated the dawn of a new day as free people” (Whitehead, 2014, p. 200).
Tubman’s dedication to eliminating slavery led her into South Carolina during the Civil War, where she served as nurse, scout, spy, and cook in the Union army. “Thanks…to her gender, race, and diminutive stature, Tubman was able to move behind Confederate lines and gather information without being noticed” (Chism, 2005, p. 47). She provided nursing care to black soldiers and newly freed slaves who arrived at Union camps. Tubman became the first woman to lead an armed military raid when she directed the Second South Carolina Black regiment up the Combahee River, disrupting Confederate outposts, and damaging stockpiles of cotton, weapons and food. “[As a result of] that one raid…more than 700 [slaves]…celebrated the dawn of a new day as free people” (Whitehead, 2014, p. 200).