Former slave Harriet Tubman who had already avoided terrible dangers guiding people north on the Underground Railroad, continued her fight for freedom during the Civil War. On June 2nd, 1863, she played a critical role in a daring military raid, the first led by a woman in the war. This operation targeted Confederate forces, supply depots, and plantations along the Combahee River in coastal South Carolina.

Tubman’s deep understanding of the region and the enslaved community proved invaluable. Acting as a scout, she obtained crucial intelligence from people yearning for freedom. This intel revealed the location of Confederate torpedoes hidden in the river, a danger that could have crippled the Union gunboat assault. With this knowledge, Tubman expertly guided the Union vessels, ensuring their safe passage.

The raid, known as the Combahee Ferry Raid, unfolded with Tubman’s continued guidance. Her expertise on the river and the location of enslaved people seeking refuge was instrumental in liberating nearly 800 individuals. The raid also delivered a significant blow to the Confederacy by destroying millions of dollars worth of supplies. This joint operation involved the 2nd Regiment South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, a regiment comprised of African American soldiers fighting for the Union and their own liberation.