GENERAL HARRIET TUBMAN: A POSTHUMOUS SALUTE TO BRAVERY AND LEADERSHIP
One of the most iconic historical figures in American history is finally getting the military honors that she should have gotten a long time ago. Harriet Tubman is now a One-Star Brigadier General thanks to a 2024 ceremony finally recognizing her service during the American Civil War.
Harriet Tubman Finally Recognized for Her Military Service
The Maryland National Guard commissioned Harriet Tubman as a One-Star Brigadier General during a 2024 Veterans Day ceremony.
Known as a hero for freeing enslaved people during the Civil War, Tubman was a Black woman who many give credit for being the first female to lead troops in combat during the conflict.
The posthumous commission was conducted in Tubman’s native state of Maryland, which would host many of her descendants, including her great-great-great-grandniece Ernestine “Tina” Martin Wyatt, who received the award on her ancestor’s behalf.
Union Spy & Military Leader
Harriet Tubman’s accomplishments are great with an impact still seen today in America; however, it’s worth separating the truth from fiction.
Though many believe that she rescued around 300 people, this number was exaggerated by an inaccurate estimate Tubman and her family have explicitly contradicted for clarity.
According to Tubman, she freed around 70 people, all of which were friends and family members. Furthermore, she also helped around another 70 people escape slavery by providing them with instructions on how to get out safely.
However, she still would assist in rescuing hundreds of people, just not in the way you might think, as she led a large rescue during a military operation.
The leader of the Underground Railroad is a noted figure of freedom but she was also a Civil War spy who would end up leading men and yes, freeing slaves in the process.
In 1861, the governor of Massachusetts realized the value of having Harriet Tubman as a spy, so, she was recruited by the Union Army for such purposes. Tubman gathered valuable intel behind Confederate lines, which she did disguised as a field hand.
While undercover, she led scouting missions to locate Confederate mines, supply areas, and troops. Tubman was even a part of recruiting other Black spies.
However, in June 1863, Harriet Tubman and Union Col. James Montgomery rescued more than 700 slaves as they led the Raid at Combahee Ferry. Due to her knowledge of navigating the Combahee River, Blacks were freed and the Union destroyed key targets in South Carolina.
Tubman also served as a nurse in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina, later traveling to Florida to treat Soldiers for dysentery with natural remedies.
In 1865, she was appointed nurse matron at Fort Monroe’s Colored Hospital by the Army’s 12th Surgeon General.
She was honored in 2021 with induction into the Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame; however, her military honors are now being rightfully bolstered in 2024 after her posthumous commissioning by the Maryland National Guard.
How Did Harriet Tubman Die?
At the age of 91, Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia. However, her legacy continues despite the struggles she had to face after doing so much for our nation.
Following the Civil War, Tubman was greatly appreciated by abolitionists but not so much by the U.S. military.
Even after filing a $1,800 claim in New York for recognition of her service, she was denied. Finally, in 1899, a bill was enacted to provide her with a nurse pension for $20 per month, only after many letters and documents supporting her service were filed.
We waited until 2021 to put her in a hall of fame that started in 1988 and 2024 until making her a One-Star Brigadier General—Harriet Tubman deserved better.
Thankfully, the legacy of Harriet Tubman continues to grow. While meaningful gestures might have taken some time to become official, they are finally coming to fruition.
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