Petition for Harriet Tubman to Receive a Congressional Medal of Honor

On June 1st and 2nd of 1863 at the encouragement of Harriet Tubman, an armed, African American female scout serving with the United States Army, a combined raid of Army and Naval forces left Beaufort, South Carolina to engage in a series of raids on the Combahee River. Scout Tubman, under the command of Colonel James Montgomery, accompanied the 2nd South Carolina Infantry, a regiment of formerly enslaved troops. With no regard for her personal safety Scout Tubman took a leadership role at the head of the regiment and guided them up the river to their destination, causing great harm to the enemy with minimal casualties. As an African American, a woman and as a former enslaved person, she was not properly recognized despite her evident outstanding leadership, courage and dedication.