Phoebe Judge

The soldiers started setting fire to the plantations. Minus Hamilton later described watching everything burn.

The soldiers started setting fire to the plantations. Minus Hamilton later described watching everything burn.

But there is a problem. Since one of the three boats had run aground and never made it to the plantations, there wasn't enough room for everyone.

But there is a problem. Since one of the three boats had run aground and never made it to the plantations, there wasn't enough room for everyone.

The crew in the rowboats had to hit people's hands with their oars to get them to let go. One person described the people left by the river as, quote, "...the saddest sight of the whole expedition." But the sun was coming up, and they had to hurry. As the boats pulled away, the riverbanks were full of personal belongings that people hadn't been able to bring.

The crew in the rowboats had to hit people's hands with their oars to get them to let go. One person described the people left by the river as, quote, "...the saddest sight of the whole expedition." But the sun was coming up, and they had to hurry. As the boats pulled away, the riverbanks were full of personal belongings that people hadn't been able to bring.

On one of the boats, a white Union commander, Colonel Montgomery, asked Harriet Tubman to, quote, speak a word of consolation. But Tubman and the newly freed people could barely understand each other.

On one of the boats, a white Union commander, Colonel Montgomery, asked Harriet Tubman to, quote, speak a word of consolation. But Tubman and the newly freed people could barely understand each other.

Minus Hamilton and his wife Hager had made it onto the boat.

Minus Hamilton and his wife Hager had made it onto the boat.

756 people got on the boats that morning. Etta Fields Black calls it one of the most successful Union expeditions of the entire Civil War.

756 people got on the boats that morning. Etta Fields Black calls it one of the most successful Union expeditions of the entire Civil War.

Etta L. Fields Black's book is Cumbie, Harriet Tubman, the Cumbie River Raid, and Black Freedom During the Civil War. While researching the book, Etta says she was surprised to find documents, soldiers' pension files, with new details about the men who fought in the raid and their families. And she found one of her ancestors in the records.

Etta L. Fields Black's book is Cumbie, Harriet Tubman, the Cumbie River Raid, and Black Freedom During the Civil War. While researching the book, Etta says she was surprised to find documents, soldiers' pension files, with new details about the men who fought in the raid and their families. And she found one of her ancestors in the records.

After the raid, Minus Hamilton told this story to a Union commander. After that, we don't know what happened to him. But we do know a little bit about his daughter, Bina.

After the raid, Minus Hamilton told this story to a Union commander. After that, we don't know what happened to him. But we do know a little bit about his daughter, Bina.

Harriet Tubman lived to be 91. Do you think that it's possible that Harriet Tubman and Minus Hamilton might have met on the boat?

Harriet Tubman lived to be 91. Do you think that it's possible that Harriet Tubman and Minus Hamilton might have met on the boat?

Criminal is created by Lauren Spohr and me. Nadia Wilson is our senior producer. Katie Bishop is our supervising producer. Our producers are Susanna Robertson, Jackie Sajico, Lily Clark, Lena Sillison, and Megan Kinane. Our show is mixed and engineered by Veronica Simonetti. Julian Alexander makes original illustrations for each episode of Criminal. You can see them at thisiscriminal.com.

Criminal is created by Lauren Spohr and me. Nadia Wilson is our senior producer. Katie Bishop is our supervising producer. Our producers are Susanna Robertson, Jackie Sajico, Lily Clark, Lena Sillison, and Megan Kinane. Our show is mixed and engineered by Veronica Simonetti. Julian Alexander makes original illustrations for each episode of Criminal. You can see them at thisiscriminal.com.