The Raid

The Freedman's Memorial in Washington, D.C., serves as a focal point for re-examining the Civil War’s legacy and the often-overlooked agency of enslaved people in their own liberation. While traditional narratives frequently center on military leaders or political figures, the Combahee River Raid reveals a more complex history where Harriet Tubman acted as a strategic mastermind, coordinating with Colonel James Montgomery to liberate over 700 enslaved people in a single operation. This raid, which involved burning Confederate infrastructure and arming newly freed individuals like Shedrick Manigault, highlights the active role black soldiers played in dismantling slavery. By contrasting these historical realities with the sanitized versions found in textbooks and public monuments, the discussion challenges the myth that the Civil War was solely a top-down conflict, emphasizing instead the grassroots efforts of those who fought for their own freedom.