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Plantation owners and their overseers tried to force or convince enslaved people to hide from the U.S. Army. But Etta Fields Black says people watching the boats approaching knew why they had come.

Plantation owners and their overseers tried to force or convince enslaved people to hide from the U.S. Army. But Etta Fields Black says people watching the boats approaching knew why they had come.

The soldiers on the boats were black men from the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers Regiment, and so some of the soldiers were familiar to people on the rice plantations. Harriet Tubman later described how she saw people running to the boats.

The soldiers on the boats were black men from the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers Regiment, and so some of the soldiers were familiar to people on the rice plantations. Harriet Tubman later described how she saw people running to the boats.

Hundreds of people rushed to the riverbanks to make it onto the boats. Harriet Tubman said it was like there was a, quote, mysterious telegraphic communication between people in the area telling them to run to the river. Someone described how the crowds extended in every direction as far as the eye could see.

Hundreds of people rushed to the riverbanks to make it onto the boats. Harriet Tubman said it was like there was a, quote, mysterious telegraphic communication between people in the area telling them to run to the river. Someone described how the crowds extended in every direction as far as the eye could see.

And then, the Union commanders ordered everyone back on the boat, as fast as possible.

And then, the Union commanders ordered everyone back on the boat, as fast as possible.

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.