The Civil War: The War That Divided The United States

by Lance T. Stewart

Railroad began after her escape to Philadelphia, when she learned that her niece and niece’s children were about to be sold at auction in Baltimore. After helping them escape to a nearby safe house, Tubman facilitated the escape of more of her family members. With each trip, Tubman became more confident in her knowledge of routes and safe houses. In 1851, Tubman attempted to help her husband escape, but he confessed himself contented with his lot in life and refused to come with her. Angered, and unwilling to waste the trip and the resources she had gathered on his behalf, Tubman invited other slaves to accompany her on the journey north. This began her career as the liberator, not just of her family, but of over seventy slaves during at least thirteen trips south. Tubman’s enormous success as a conductor on the Underground Railroad was owing to her extraordinary ingenuity, her confidence that God had appointed her to her task and would keep her safe, and her misleading personal appearance. She was middle aged and only five feet tall, and her knowledge of slave life on the plantations enabled her to easily pass as a slave in disguise right under the noses of her own former masters. She was anything but meek, however; her code name was Moses, and she carried a revolver with her, both for protection against slave catchers, and to make those who came on the journey with her understand the seriousness of the undertaking. Anyone who turned back put the entire operation at ris...