Skip to main content

Secondary sourceDocument1 June 1888

A History Concerning the Pension Claim of Harriet Tubman

Charles P. Wood · 1 June 1888

An 1888 manuscript compiled by Charles P. Wood for Congress, recording Harriet Tubman's work as a Civil War scout and spy.

This official record documents Tubman's wartime service as a scout and spy, prepared for her pension claim.

Ask Harriet Tubman about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Scan of a handwritten manuscript page on lined paper in cursive ink, with a torn and taped top edge. The text begins 'Harriett Tubman was sent to Hilton Head' and describes her wartime service as a scout and spy, listing names of scouts and pilots.
Charles P. Wood, A History Concerning the Pension Claim of Harriet Tubman, 1 June 1888.

About this source

What it is

This is a handwritten manuscript compiled in 1888 by Charles P. Wood as part of the official record for Harriet Tubman's pension claim before the U.S. House of Representatives. It describes how Tubman was sent to Hilton Head in 1862 and served as a spy and scout, naming other scouts and pilots who worked with her, including figures endorsed by officers such as R. Saxton.

Why it matters

This document is key official evidence of Tubman's military role during the Civil War, beyond her earlier work on the Underground Railroad. It shows how her wartime service had to be documented and proven years later for her to receive recognition and pay, and it preserves the names of other scouts and pilots who worked alongside her.

Look closer

  • Why might it have taken until the 1880s for an official history of Tubman's service to be written?
  • What does the list of names tell you about the network Tubman worked within?
  • Whose voice is this written in, and how might that shape what is included or left out?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Harriet Tubman on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Harriet Tubman sources

Meet the AI Harriet Tubman →
Scan of an 1849 newspaper runaway-slave reward notice headed 'Three Hundred Dollars Reward', offering rewards for three runaways named Harry, Ben and Minty, signed by Eliza Ann Brodess near Bucktown, Dorchester County, Md.Newspaper article

Primary source

Three Hundred Dollars Reward Notice

Eliza Ann Brodess · 3 October 1849

Black-and-white studio portrait of a standing woman in a dark long-sleeved dress with a white collar, buttons down the bodice, and a tasseled key at her waist. Her hand rests on a draped chair; a hat and coat lie on a fringed stool, and a draped table stands at left against a plain backdrop with a column.Photograph

Primary source

Harriet Tubman

Harvey B. Lindsley · c. 1871-1876

Scan of a dark brown cloth book cover with a worn, faded light-colored title block at the top left, too faded to read clearly. The rest of the cover is plain, with a visible spine edge along the left side.Book

Secondary source

Harriet, the Moses of Her People

Sarah Bradford · 1886

Sepia carte-de-visite portrait of a seated Black woman in a dark long-sleeved dress with a white collar and a light checked skirt, leaning her arm on a spindle chair. Handwritten signature reads Harriet Tubman. Red and cream border.Photograph

Primary source

Carte-de-visite Portrait of Harriet Tubman

Benjamin Powelson · c. 1868-1869

Scanned handwritten General Affidavit form, filled in by hand, with a title printed at top. The text describes a claim for services as nurse and cook in hospitals and as commander of scouts during the Civil War. Signatures of affiants appear at the bottom, including Harriet Tubman's name and her mark.Document

Primary source

General Affidavit of Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman · 1898

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Harriet Tubman now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions