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The Raid at Combahee Ferry was a military operation during the American Civil War conducted on June 1 and June 2, 1863 by elements of the Union Army along the Combahee River in Beaufort and Colleton counties in southeast South Carolina''.〔''Official Records'', Series 1, Volume 14. p. 306.〕 Harriet Tubman, who had escaped from slavery in 1849 and guided many others to freedom, was working for the Union Army and guided its forces in the area. The Union ships transported more than 750 slaves freed by the raid, many of whom joined the Union Army. ==Background== Following the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, the newly formed Confederate States of America quickly moved to defend coastal South Carolina. Union forces tried to take control of the area because of the fine harbors, which they needed to operate successfully in the South. In November 1861, Union Navy and Army troops invaded Port Royal, south of Charleston and near the town of Beaufort. They occupied most of Beaufort County and the Sea Islands. Planters and overseers fled area plantations ahead of the oncoming Union troops, and thousands of slaves were effectively liberated. Several infantry regiments in the Union Army were formed from these former slaves, including the 2nd South Carolina Infantry under Col. James Montgomery. Montgomery was a “Jayhawker” from Kansas who had fought in numerous clashes between pro- and anti-slavery forces in Kansas and Missouri prior to the war. His brand of warfare would be used in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.〔 Combahee River Raid, Harriet Tubman and Lowcountry Liberation 〕 In the spring of 1863, Union commanders began planning raids into the fortified upper reaches of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coastal rivers, such as the Combahee, Ashepoo, and Edisto. The objectives were to remove torpedoes (mines) from the river, seize supplies from area plantations, and destroy the plantations. In addition, the Union forces were to encourage recruits for infantry regiments among any healthy adult male slaves freed by these actions .〔''Official Records'', Series 1, Volume 14, p. 308.〕 〔 Combahee River Raid, Harriet Tubman and Lowcountry Liberation 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Raid at Combahee Ferry」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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