Skip to main content

Primary sourceDocument1860

Senate Select Committee Report on Harper's Ferry, Journal Appendix No. 7

1860

A U.S. Senate committee document from 1860 investigating John Brown's raid, which includes correspondence naming Tubman as ill in New Bedford at the time.

Names Tubman as ill in New Bedford, showing her link to John Brown's network around the Harper's Ferry raid.

Ask Harriet Tubman about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Full text (Wikisource)

About this source

What it is

This is part of the official appendix to a U.S. Senate Select Committee report from 1860, investigating John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. It includes correspondence between Brown's supporters, exchanged just before the raid in 1859.

Within the letters, one passage mentions that Harriet Tubman was probably in New Bedford, sick, showing she was connected to the network supporting Brown's plans.

Why it matters

The document reveals how closely Tubman was tied to John Brown's abolitionist circle, even though illness may have kept her from direct involvement in the raid itself. It shows how government investigations after the raid tried to trace the web of people who knew or helped Brown.

Look closer

  • Why might the committee have wanted to know where Tubman was at this time?
  • What does this letter tell us about the secrecy and coded language used by abolitionists?
  • What is left out of this short mention of Tubman — what more would you want to know?

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