My local newspaper, the Waukesha Freeman, had an article about her becoming a “one-star brigadier general in the state’s National Guard.” While I knew that she was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, I had never read about her being involved in a military action.
Wikipedia says,”For her guidance of the raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 enslaved people, she is widely credited as the first woman to lead an armed military operation in the United States.” So, the state of Maryland named her a general during a ceremony on Veteran’s day this year.
While finding the above links and reading them, I was surprised to read that she was injured (traumatic brain injury) as a teenager and developed a disability. She managed to rescue many people from slavery and worked on women’s rights while experiencing painful head aches.
“I have heard their groans and sighs, and seen their tears, and I would give every drop of blood in my veins to free them.”
“God’s time is always near. He set the North Star in the heavens; He gave me the strength in my limbs; He meant I should be free.”
“I said to the Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to you, and I know you will see me through.”
and I prayed to God to make me strong and able to fight, and that’s what I’ve always prayed for ever since.”
I think there’s many a slaveholder’ll get to Heaven. They don’t know no better. They acts up to the light they have.”
Here is the website where I found these quotes. Here is a quote of Tubman’s that I found in The Time Is Now by Joan Chittister.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”