Women’s History Month: Harriet Tubman

The story of Harriet Tubman, who passed away on March 10, 1913, is a remarkable tale of bravery, cunning, and a deep commitment to the ideals of freedom. Tubman fought not only for her own liberation but also for the freedom of countless enslaved individuals in the American South during the 1850s and early 1860s. As a born slave who escaped to freedom, a key operator of the Underground Railroad, a fugitive with a bounty on her head, and a nurse, Union scout, and spy, Harriet Tubman's life continues to inspire people worldwide.

Early Life of Harriet Tubman

Born Araminta “Minty” Ross in the early 1820s in Dorchester County, Maryland, Harriet was the fifth of nine children born to Harriet “Rit” Green and Benjamin Ross. Her mother served as a cook for Mary Pattison Brodess and later for her son, Edward. After Mary’s death, her second husband, Anthony Thompson, inherited Benjamin Ross, a skilled forester and foreman. Minty faced a harsh childhood, as her family was often separated due to being rented out to work on various plantations. Tragically, three of her older sisters were sold away forever, and her mother had to hide Minty’s youngest brother to prevent his sale.

At around six years old, Minty was rented out to a woman she referred to as “Miss Susan” to care for her infant. She faced severe punishment when the baby cried, leaving her with emotional and physical scars that lasted a lifetime. As she grew older, Minty worked as a field hand, cook, and timber worker. Her life changed dramatically at about 12 or 13 when she intervened in a violent altercation between a plantation overseer and a fellow slave. The overseer, intending to harm the other slave, struck Minty in the head, causing severe injuries. This incident left her with chronic pain, vivid nightmares, hallucinations, and narcolepsy, which would affect her throughout her life.

The National Women’s History Museum states, “Tubman’s place in disability history is often overlooked. It is important to note that narcolepsy was a prominent part of both her identity and story. Vivid visions of freedom came to her while experiencing these seizures… Tubman’s dedication to her faith and her experience with chronic pain hold equal weight. Both elements were key in her determination to seek liberation for the enslaved.”

Journey to Freedom

Despite her hardships, Minty negotiated with Edward Brodess to select her work assignments in exchange for paying him a fee. This allowed her to explore new areas of Maryland and gain valuable knowledge about the region. In 1844, she married a free Black man named John Tubman and adopted the name Harriet in honor of her mother. However, as Brodess faced financial difficulties, he decided to sell some of his slaves, including two of Minty’s brothers. Fearing for her family, Harriet expressed her dream of freedom: “I dreamed of crossing the Mason-Dixon line and on the other side of that line were green fields, and lovely flowers, and beautiful white ladies who stretched out their arms to me over the line.”

Using her knowledge of the area, Harriet planned an escape for herself and her brothers on September 17, 1849. However, when they learned of the bounty on their heads, her brothers returned to the plantation, and Harriet was forced to go with them. As the threat of being sold loomed, Harriet prayed for her master’s change of heart: “I prayed all night long for my master till the first of March… When an offer for Harriet was made, she changed her prayer: ‘Oh Lord, if you ain’t never going to change that man’s heart, kill him, Lord, and take him out of the way.’” A week later, Brodess died.

Following his death, Harriet made her first successful escape alone, aided by the Underground Railroad, reaching Philadelphia. Despite her newfound freedom, she missed her family and soon became involved with the Underground Railroad, which helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom. Harriet made at least 13 dangerous trips back to Maryland, where a bounty was still on her head, to rescue her family members, including her brother Moses.

Activism and Civil War Contributions

After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 criminalized assistance to escaped slaves, Harriet shifted her focus to leading her charges to Canada for safety. Between 1851 and 1862, she rescued at least 70 enslaved people, including her brothers Henry, Ben, and Robert, despite her husband choosing to stay with his new wife. In her last mission, Harriet guided her aging parents to freedom in the North.

In 1858, she purchased a small farm near Auburn, New York, where she lived with her parents. The national debate on slavery intensified following Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860. Harriet joined the Union Army as a nurse and laundress, later becoming a spy. From 1863, she used her knowledge of covert travel to lead scouts through South Carolina, gathering intelligence for the Union. Her head injury helped her pose as a mentally disabled slave, allowing her to overhear critical information about Confederate troop movements.

One of her most significant contributions came during U.S. Col. James Montgomery’s raid at Combahee Ferry, where Harriet guided Union ships through mine-laden waters. This raid rescued approximately 750 enslaved individuals and was celebrated in Northern newspapers, which hailed Harriet as a hero. She continued to work for the Union Army throughout the Civil War, providing vital intelligence and nursing services.

Later Life and Legacy

Despite her service, Harriet received only $200 for her contributions to the Union Army. After the war, she supported her family by selling produce and baked goods and raised pigs. Harriet remarried Nelson Davis, one of the men she had helped escape slavery. They adopted a young girl named Gertie, and Harriet continued to care for orphans and the infirm.

In 1874, a New York Congressman introduced a bill to grant her a $2,000 subsidy for her wartime service, but it failed. In 1897, another bill proposed a standard $25 monthly pension for her military service, which also failed due to discomfort among Congress members about equal pay for women. Eventually, Harriet received a monthly pension of $12, combined with an $8 widow’s pension, bringing her total to $20—still less than her male counterparts.

Harriet Tubman remained active in advocating for women’s suffrage, traveling to speak on the issue. She delivered the keynote address at the first meeting of the National Federation of Afro-American Women in 1896, even selling a cow to afford the train ticket. That same year, she established the Home for Aged and Indigent Negroes on her farm, dedicating her later years to caring for her parents and others in need.

By 1911, Harriet's health declined, and she became a ward of the rest home she had founded. On March 10, 1913, at the age of 91, surrounded by loved ones, Harriet Tubman passed away from pneumonia. Her legacy endures through numerous memorials, schools, books, and films that celebrate her as an icon of courage, compassion, and the relentless pursuit of liberty.