Harriet Tubman- The Union Spy

Harriet Tubman was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and a union spy during the American Civil War during the years of 1861-1865.  Being born into slavery in 1819 her life was not easy.  She was raised under very harsh conditions including being whipped as a child.  As years passed, at the age of 25 Harriet Tubman married John Tubman, who was a free African American male.  A few years later fearing that Harriet would be sold to the south, she made her escape.
Her first stop was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Here is where she met William Still, the station master of the Underground Railroad.  With the help of Will, Harriet became quite familiar with the use of the Underground Railroad and how it operates.  Harriet used the Underground Railroad to help withhold many friends and family members in the process of escaping from slavery.  She led them safely to the northern Free states and to Canada. It was very threatening to be a runaway slave. Whenever Tubman led a group of slaves to freedom, she placed herself in a tremendous amount of danger. There was a bounty offered for her capture because she was a fugitive slave herself, and she was breaking the law in slave states by helping other slaves escape. Tubman made 19 trips to Maryland and helped 300 people to freedom.  During these treacherous journeys she helped rescue members of her own family, including her 70-year-old parents. At one point, rewards for Tubman's capture totaled $40,000. Yet, she was never captured and never failed to deliver her "passengers" to safety.  (BradFord)
Despite Harriet’s reward for her capture, she was never betrayed. Her work was worshiped upon by many.  She was known as the Underground Railroads greatest conductor, and was sometimes referred to “the Moses of her people”, while leading them out of slavery.   With that being said, Harriet Tubman was a great leader during the Civil war, whether it was while leading people towards the underground railroad, or let alone, an African American women.  Harriet is still glorified by many till this day.

Bradford, Sarah.  Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People.  New York Corinth Books, 1886.

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/tubman/aa_tubman_rail_1.html