Official announcements or press releases from the Maryland General Assembly or reputable news sources

Harriet Tubman Posthumously Named Brigadier General by Maryland Governor on Veterans Day

Nov 12, 2024, 02:33 AM

On Veterans Day, revered abolitionist Harriet Tubman was posthumously awarded the rank of one-star brigadier general in the Maryland Army National Guard, in a ceremony held at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Maryland's Dorchester County. Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland National Guard commissioned her to honor her significant military service during the Civil War, where she served as a scout, spy, and nurse for the Union Army and became the first woman to oversee an American military action during a time of war, leading Union troops on a raid more than 160 years ago. "Today, we celebrate a soldier and a person who earned the title of veteran," Governor Moore said during the ceremony. Tubman escaped slavery in 1849 and established the Underground Railroad to help others gain freedom. Her great-great-great-grandniece, Tina Wyatt, accepted the promotion on her behalf. This recognition was made possible after the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation during the last session allowing the governor to award posthumous commissions, and it is considered by many to be long overdue.