The Lesser-Known Legacy of Harriet Tubman: Civil War Nurse

Professional woman smiling while outdoors
Written by Marie Hasty, BSN, RN Content Writer, IntelyCare
A graphic of Harriet Tubman, Civil War nurse.

You likely associate Harriet Tubman with her heroism during the Civil War period, but do you know of Harriet Tubman as a nurse? Tubman, sometimes referred to as Moses, was a spy, organizer, cook, and caregiver. Her Underground Railroad efforts helped more than 70 people seek freedom by guiding them to Maryland from the enslaved South. Learn about Harriet Tubman — Civil War nurse and American hero.

The American Civil War raged from 1861 to 1865, and those four years brought more deaths than any other American conflict in history. This period saw significant advancements in military tactics and technology, along with unprecedented challenges in medical care. The sheer number of casualties and the severity of injuries meant that medicine, and nursing, had to adapt.

Education for nurses was still in its infancy during this period. Many women learned practical skills from their mothers and community leaders, and there were few formal training programs. Harriet Tubman was one of many volunteer nurses who stepped forward to provide care out of necessity and compassion. Her courageous acts during this period exemplified courage, dedication, and veracity — essential ethical principles of nursing today. Learn more about the roles of Harriett Tubman: nurse, spy, change agent, and much more.

Harriet Tubman: Civil War Nurse, Spy, and Leader

Early Life

Born Araminta Ross in Maryland, Harriet Tubman was a middle child in a family of nine enslaved siblings. From childhood, she wanted justice for her community. At the age of 12, she threw herself between an overseer and an enslaved person, taking a blow to the head. The subsequent injury led to vision problems, headaches, and seizures throughout her lifetime.

Around 1844, Araminta changed her name to Harriett and married John Tubman, a free Black man. But the marriage didn’t go well, and in 1849, under the threat of being sold to another slave owner, Tubman made her escape from Maryland. Making her way along the Underground Railroad, Tubman traveled 90 miles to Pennsylvania.

The Underground Railroad

Tubman’s work in Maryland was far from over once she escaped slavery. During the subsequent decade, Tubman would return 19 times to guide people to the North, risking her life with each journey. She relied on trustworthy allies along the route to hide her and her charges, often traveling under the cover of night.

Tubman used many means of transportation — walking, horses, boats, trains, and more. She also learned skills to keep herself and others alive, such as disguises, a code of songs, and bribes. She’d also quiet crying babies with herbal remedies. Using the stars and rivers, she guided herself and others to safety.

Civil War Efforts and Beyond

Tubman’s efforts continued when the Civil War broke out in 1861. Her work as an organizer made her well-connected among the abolitionist community, and her experience in navigating the backwater marshlands of Maryland would become invaluable to the Union efforts.

In 1862, Tubman traveled to South Carolina to help the Union by recruiting Black troops and helping care for formerly enslaved people. An herbalist, she used plant remedies to help treat soldiers with infections. In one account, she used a concoction of water lilies and cranesbill to cure a soldier of dysentery.

After recruiting formerly enslaved people and treating those who were sick, Tubman helped transport them North. She also headed the espionage network for the Union, gathering intelligence by dressing as a field hand. She helped map mines, supply locations, and troops — essential information for weakening Confederate power.

The following year, Tubman became the first woman in U.S. history to lead a military raid. Along with Col. James Montgomery, she destroyed Confederate supply lines, burned several plantations, and helped free over 750 people. Throughout the remainder of the war effort, she served as a nurse, cook, and spy.

While the war officially ended in 1865, Tubman’s work wasn’t over. She settled down on her own land in New York and became an advocate for women’s suffrage. Later in life, she finally received a well-deserved federal pension for her invaluable efforts during the war. Tubman opened the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Colored People, and moved into the facility in 1911. She died there in 1913.

Civil Rights and Nursing: Irrevocably Linked

If you’ve been seeking a nursing role model, few provide a better example than Harriet Tubman. And nursing as a profession is rooted in civil rights — the belief that every person deserves respect, care, and service. Tubman’s work as an abolitionist and nurse personifies nursing advocacy, a practice of supporting, educating, protecting, and securing a patient’s autonomy and freedom, and seeking social justice in every aspect of health care.

Today’s nurses work at the forefront of patient advocacy, helping care for vulnerable populations, addressing health disparities, and promoting equitable access to care. Modern nurses can continue to champion the cause of civil rights within the healthcare system, ensuring that every patient receives the dignity, respect, and quality care they deserve. Harriet Tubman’s life and work remind us that nursing is both a profession and a force for social change and justice.

Nursing Leaders and Their Stories

Curious about other nurses who have shaped the profession throughout history? Check out our articles on other nurse leaders:

Seeking a New Nursing Opportunity?

Was Harriet Tubman a nurse you’d like to emulate? Now that you’ve been inspired by Harriet Tubman, Civil War nurse, you might be curious about open roles where you can advocate and care for people. Learn more with customized nursing job notifications from IntelyCare.