December 1, 1860: Harriet Tubman is on the move

Thomas Garrett

December 1, 1860 found Harriet Tubman busily helping more fugitive slaves escape towards freedom in the North. We can get a glimpse into Tubman's world from a letter written by abolitionist Thomas Garrett to William Still, probably the most important organizer of the Underground Railroad.

WILMINGTON, 12th mo., 1st, 1860.

RESPECTED FRIEND: - WILLIAM STILL: - I write to let thee know that Harriet Tubman is again in these parts. She arrived last evening from one of her trips of mercy to God's poor, bringing two men with her as far as New Castle. I agreed to pay a man last evening, to pilot them on their way to Chester county; the wife of one of the men, with two or three children, was left some thirty miles below, and I gave Harriet ten dollars, to hire a man with carriage, to take them to Chester county. She said a man had offered for that sum, to bring them on. I shall be very uneasy about them, till I hear they are safe. There is now much more risk on the road, till they arrive here, than there has been for several months past, as we find that some poor, worthless wretches are constantly on the look out on two roads, that they cannot well avoid more especially with carriage, yet, as it is Harriet who seems to have had a special angel to guard her on her journey of mercy, I have hope. Thy Friend,

THOMAS GARRETT.

N. B. We hope all will be in Chester county to-morrow.

Harriet Tubman

Although she had no way of knowing it at the time, this would be the last trip Harriet Tubman would conduct on the Underground Railroad.