Harriet Tubman was sent to Hilton Head—She says—in May 1862, at the suggestion of Gov Andrew, with the idea that she would be a valuable person to operate within the enemies lines—in procuring information & scouts. She was forwarded by Col Frank Howe—the Mass. State agent in New York, by the Gov’t transport Atlantic—was sent-up to Beaufort, attached to the H'Qrs of Gen’l Stevens—and rendered much, and very valuable service acting as a spy within the enemies lines—and obtaining the services of the most-valued Scouts and Pilots in the Gov’t employ in that Department.
Among the original papers in Harriet’s possession—is a list of the names of the Scouts & Pilots—
- “Issac Hayward” “Mott Blake”
- “Gabriel Cahern” “Sandy Sellus”
- “Geo Chisholm” “Solomon Gregory”
- “Peter Burns”
"Pilots who know the channels of the River in this vicinity, and who acted as such for Col. Montgomery up the Combahee River
