Most people know Harriet Tubman as the “Moses” of the Underground Railroad, the woman who led dozens to freedom. But few realize that the same head injury that caused her lifelong seizures may have fueled the very determination that made her legendary. This article traces her journey from a Maryland slave cabin to the battlefields of the Civil War, examining the disability, the nicknames, the zero-loss record, and the final words of a woman who never stopped fighting for liberty.
Born: c. 1822 · Died: March 10, 1913 · Missions on Underground Railroad: 13 · Slaves Rescued: approx. 70 · Slaves Lost: 0 · Nickname: Moses
Quick snapshot
- Born into slavery in Maryland c. 1822 (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))
- Escaped to Philadelphia in 1849 (Britannica)
- Made 13 missions and rescued about 70 people (National Women’s History Museum (educational nonprofit))
- Never lost a passenger (History.com (editorial media outlet))
- Exact birth month and day (year c. 1822) (Britannica)
- Precise number of rescue missions (commonly 13, possibly more) (Kurt’s Historic Sites (history blog))
- Nature of her neurological condition (narcolepsy vs. epilepsy) (Psychology Today (popular psychology magazine))
- 1834 – Severe head injury from a thrown weight (Biography.com (digital media))
- Legacy continues: Harriet Tubman to appear on the $20 bill (Library of Congress (U.S. federal library))
Nine key facts about Tubman’s life, presented at a glance:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross) |
| Born | c. 1822, Dorchester County, Maryland |
| Died | March 10, 1913, Auburn, New York |
| Nickname | Moses |
| Known For | Underground Railroad, Civil War service, women’s suffrage |
| Disability | Temporal lobe epilepsy (seizures and sudden sleep episodes) |
| Slaves Rescued | About 70 |
| Slaves Lost | 0 |
| Role in Civil War | Scout, spy, nurse |
What was Harriet Tubman famous for?
The Underground Railroad
- After escaping slavery in 1849, Tubman made repeated trips south to guide others to freedom via the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses and abolitionist routes. (National Park Service (U.S. government agency))
- She is credited with at least 13 missions and personally leading roughly 70 enslaved people to liberty. (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))
Civil War Service
- During the Civil War, Tubman worked for the Union Army as a scout, spy, nurse, and cook in South Carolina. (PBS (public broadcasting service))
- She led the Combahee River Raid in 1863, freeing more than 700 enslaved people. (American Battlefield Trust (historical preservation organization))
Later Activism and Suffrage
- After the war, Tubman settled in Auburn, New York, and became a vocal advocate for women’s suffrage, working alongside Susan B. Anthony. (National Women’s History Museum)
The pattern: Tubman’s activism spanned slavery, war, and women’s rights, making her one of the most versatile freedom fighters of the 19th century.
What is Harriet Tubman’s disability?
The Head Injury at Age 12
- Around 1834, an overseer threw a heavy iron weight at a fleeing enslaved person but struck Tubman instead, fracturing her skull. (Biography.com (digital media))
- The injury caused dizziness, pain, and sudden spells of unconsciousness that lasted the rest of her life. (UK Disability History Month (academic guide))
Narcolepsy and Seizures
- Many modern historians and physicians believe Tubman experienced temporal lobe epilepsy, characterized by seizures and brief periods of sleep (narcolepsy). (Psychology Today (popular psychology magazine))
- Disability-history advocates stress that these episodes were not weaknesses but part of the embodied experience that shaped her resilience. (Ms. Magazine (feminist media outlet))
Religious Visions and Epilepsy
- Tubman reported vivid visions and dreams that she interpreted as divine guidance. According to scholars, these were likely a symptom of her temporal lobe epilepsy. (Psychology Today)
- The same condition that caused her “spells” also gave her an unshakable conviction that God would protect her missions. (Disability Rights Connecticut (legal advocacy group))
What this means: Tubman’s disability was not a side note — it was integral to how she navigated and understood her world.
“Her spells were not weaknesses but part of the embodied experience that shaped her resilience.”
Disability History Advocates, Ms. Magazine (feminist media outlet)
The very blow that could have broken her spirit instead rewired her brain in ways that produced unwavering faith and tactical genius.
The implication: Tubman’s disability was not a liability but a catalyst for her extraordinary achievements.
What did slaves call Harriet Tubman?
The Origin of the Nickname “Moses”
- Enslaved people and abolitionists called her “Moses” after the biblical figure who led the Israelites out of Egypt. (Britannica)
- The name reflected her role as a liberator who risked her own freedom to return again and again. (National Geographic Kids (educational publisher))
Other Nicknames
- During the Civil War, Colonel James Montgomery called her “General Tubman” for her leadership in the Combahee River Raid. (National Park Service)
- She was also simply known as “Aunt Harriet” among the people she sheltered. (Library of Congress)
The catch: Each nickname reveals a different facet of her public identity — spiritual deliverer, military commander, and caring matriarch.
How many slaves did Harriet Tubman lose?
The Claim of Zero Losses
- Tubman famously declared, “I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.” (History.com)
- All documented accounts support that she never lost a person she was guiding to freedom. (National Women’s History Museum)
Methods and Strategy
- She traveled at night, used disguises, carried a pistol for deterrence, and relied on an extensive network of safe houses. (Britannica)
- Some accounts estimate she rescued about 70 people over 13 missions — a small number but with a perfect safety record. (Kurt’s Historic Sites (history blog))
Why this matters: In an enterprise where a single mistake meant recapture or death, her zero-loss record stands as proof of extraordinary discipline.
The “about 70” figure is often conflated with the larger “more than 300” estimate from some writers; the lower number is the one Tubman herself would have cited for her direct rescues.
Why this matters: Her record remains unmatched.
What were Harriet’s last words?
The Context of Her Final Moments
- Harriet Tubman died on March 10, 1913, in Auburn, New York, surrounded by the elderly women she had taken into her home. (Britannica)
- She had been in poor health for years, suffering from pneumonia and the lingering effects of her old head injury. (National Park Service)
The Reported Quote
- According to her biographer Sarah Bradford, Tubman’s last words were: “I go to prepare a place for you.” (Britannica)
- The phrase echoes John 14:2 in the Bible, where Jesus promises his followers a place in heaven. (Library of Congress)
The implication: Even in death, Tubman spoke the language of liberation — she was still leading, still promising a better place.
Timeline of Harriet Tubman’s Life
- c. 1822 – Born into slavery as Araminta Ross in Dorchester County, Maryland. (Britannica)
- 1834 – Suffered a severe head injury from a thrown weight. (Biography.com)
- 1849 – Escaped to Philadelphia. (Britannica)
- 1850–1860 – Undertook 13 missions on the Underground Railroad. (National Park Service)
- 1863 – Led the Combahee River Raid. (American Battlefield Trust)
- 1865 – Civil War ended; continued activism. (History.com)
- 1913 – Died in Auburn, New York. (Britannica)
For more biographical deep-dives, see our articles on Marco Polo: Facts, Travels, and Last Words and Keith Haring: Art, Activism, and the Man Behind the Radiant Baby.
Certainty & Uncertainty: What We Know and What We Don’t
Confirmed Facts
- Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland. (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))
- She escaped in 1849. (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))
- She made multiple rescue missions on the Underground Railroad. (National Women’s History Museum (educational nonprofit))
- She suffered from seizures after a head injury. (Biography.com (digital media))
- She died in 1913. (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))
What’s Unclear
- Exact birth date (year c. 1822, month unknown). (Britannica (encyclopedia publisher))
- Exact number of rescue missions (commonly 13, possibly more). (Kurt’s Historic Sites (history blog))
- Precise nature of her neurological condition (narcolepsy vs. epilepsy). (Psychology Today (popular psychology magazine))
- Number of slaves she personally rescued (estimates vary). (Kurt’s Historic Sites (history blog))
- Exact role in John Brown’s raid (she helped plan but was ill at the time). (Disability Rights Connecticut (legal advocacy group))
Memorable Quotes
“I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other.”
Harriet Tubman (History.com)
“I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”
Harriet Tubman (National Women’s History Museum)
For modern readers, Tubman’s life forces a reconsideration of what it means to lead under physical and neurological adversity. Her legacy is not a relic of the past — it is a blueprint for turning trauma into transformative action. The choice for today’s activists is clear: either treat disability as a limitation, or, like Tubman, let it become a source of unbreakable will.
who2.com, harriet-tubman.org, secretsoftheeasternshore.com, creativephl.org, msmagazine.com, syracuse.com
Frequently asked questions
When was Harriet Tubman born?
Historians estimate she was born around 1822, though the exact date is unknown. (Britannica)
Where was Harriet Tubman born?
She was born in Dorchester County, Maryland. (National Park Service)
What was Harriet Tubman’s real name?
She was born Araminta Ross and later adopted the name Harriet, after her mother. (Britannica)
Did Harriet Tubman have children?
No biological children, but she and her second husband Nelson Davis adopted a daughter named Gertie. (Biography.com)
What was Harriet Tubman’s cause of death?
She died of pneumonia in 1913. (Britannica)
How did Harriet Tubman escape slavery?
She fled on foot in 1849, using the Underground Railroad network to reach Philadelphia. (History.com)
What role did Harriet Tubman play in the Civil War?
She served as a scout, spy, nurse, and cook for the Union Army, and led the Combahee River Raid. (American Battlefield Trust)
Was Harriet Tubman ever captured?
No, she was never captured during her Underground Railroad missions or her Civil War service. (National Park Service)
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.