Did you know that Harriet Tubman is the only woman in U.S. history to lead a military raid? This legendary figure didn’t just free enslaved people through the Underground Railroad—she also led Union forces in one of the most daring military operations of the Civil War.

During the Civil War, the Union sought ways to weaken the Confederate army’s economy. One of the most critical regions for the Confederate war effort was along the Combahee River in South Carolina, where vast plantations thrived off the forced labor of enslaved Africans. To strike a decisive blow, the Union needed both manpower and precise intelligence to navigate this heavily fortified territory. Their mission: cripple the Confederate economy while freeing hundreds from slavery.

Enter Harriet Tubman. By 1863, Tubman was serving as a spy and scout for the Union Army. Her fearless reputation and unmatched knowledge of the Southern terrain made her the perfect leader for the mission. Collaborating with Union Colonel James Montgomery, Tubman helped devise a plan to attack multiple plantations along the Combahee River. The mission aimed to disrupt the Confederate economy and liberate as many enslaved people as possible.

On the night of June 2, 1863, Harriet Tubman made history by leading a military raid. Guiding three Union steamboats and about 150 Black soldiers through waters filled with Confederate mines, her intelligence was crucial for navigating the dangerous terrain. As the raid began, Union forces set fire to Confederate crops, destroying valuable property and encouraging enslaved people to flee. Tubman herself was on the ground, leading the charge.

In just six hours, over 750 enslaved people were freed, many of whom immediately joined the Union Army. The raid inflicted significant damage on the Confederate economy, destroying over $6 million worth of property, including rice fields and critical infrastructure. This blow weakened the Confederacy’s ability to fund its war effort while providing the Union with fresh recruits.

Beyond its tactical success, the raid carried profound symbolic weight. Harriet Tubman—a former enslaved woman—stood as a military leader and hero. Her fearless leadership during the Combahee River Raid solidified her legacy as one of the most powerful figures in military and abolitionist history.

The impact of Tubman’s leadership cannot be overstated. Without her intelligence and courage, the Union forces might have failed to navigate the mined waters of the Combahee River, allowing Confederate plantations to continue thriving and prolonging the war. The hundreds of people she freed would have remained in bondage, and the Union would have lost a crucial opportunity to weaken the Southern war effort.

Harriet Tubman’s legacy extends far beyond the Underground Railroad. She was not only a conductor for freedom but also a military leader, strategist, and hero. Her bravery and vision during the Combahee River Raid demonstrate how one person, even in the face of overwhelming odds, can change the course of history.

Harriet Tubman: Liberty or Death