Baltimore's Underground Railroad Network

Before the Civil War ended slavery in 1865, a covert network of safe houses and secret routes stretched across America—the Underground Railroad. Baltimore stood at the heart of this lifeline to freedom, where conductors like Harriet Tubman risked everything to guide enslaved people north to Canada and safety. The network wasn't actually underground, nor was it a railroad—the name came from frustrated slave catchers who lost track of fugitives around Columbia, Pennsylvania, declaring "there must be an underground railroad somewhere."

The system borrowed rail terminology: guides became "conductors," hiding places were "stations," and those providing shelter were "station masters." Figures like Levi Coffin (who helped 3,000 escape), Jarm Logue (who sheltered 1,500), and Isaac Hopper (who saved 3,300) turned their homes into refuge. Between 1840 and 1860, over 30,000 freedom seekers crossed into Canada through Ontario, particularly Fort Malden in Amherstburg—the "principal terminus" where 30 people a day arrived by steamboat after 1850. Discover how Baltimore's strategic location made it essential to America's secret freedom network.

Show Notes:

Episode 132 explores Baltimore's pivotal role in the Underground Railroad—the covert network of safe houses, secret routes, and brave conductors that helped over 30,000 enslaved African Americans escape to freedom between 1840 and 1860. Discover how Harriet Tubman, Levi Coffin, and other legendary figures turned their homes into stations on the Freedom Train, and how Baltimore's geographic position made it one of the network's most important hubs. The episode traces routes from Maryland through Pennsylvania and Ohio to the Canadian border, revealing the ingenious terminology, dangerous journeys, and lasting impact of America's secret freedom network.

Timeline: Key Dates

• 1526 - Chattel slavery begins in European colonies in the Americas
• 1776-1865 - Legal slavery period in the United States
• 1793 & 1850 - Fugitive Slave Acts tighten enforcement, making escape more dangerous
• 1826 - Levi Coffin moves to Indiana, begins Underground Railroad operations
• 1839 - Term "Underground Railroad" first appears in Washington newspaper
• 1840s-1860s - Peak Underground Railroad activity (20-year period)
• 1849 - Harriet Tubman escapes to Philadelphia, beginning her rescue missions
• 1850-1860 - Fort Malden (Ontario) sees ~30 people per day arriving by steamboat
• 1860s - Over 30,000 freedom seekers settle in Ontario via Underground Railroad
• 1865 - Civil War ends, slavery abolished, Underground Railroad operations cease

Key Figures & "Conductors"

Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)

• Born Araminta Ross, escaped 1849
• Conducted ~13 rescue missions, freeing ~70 people
• Nicknamed "Moses" for leading people to freedom
• Later worked for Union Army, freed 700+ at Combahee River raid
• Retired to Auburn, New York; active in women's suffrage movement

Levi Coffin (1798-1877)

• Called "President of the Underground Railroad"
• Helped ~3,000 fugitive slaves escape
• Operated from Indiana (1826-1847), then Cincinnati, Ohio
• Used wealth and business reputation to provide resources
• Established free labor goods warehouse in Cincinnati

Jarm Logue (J.W. Loguen)

• Former slave who escaped to Canada
• Returned as "Wesley Logan," studied theology
• Sheltered ~1,500 runaway slaves
• Nicknamed "King of the Underground Railroad" (with wife Caroline "Queen")

Isaac Hopper (1771-1852)

• Operated in Philadelphia and New York City
• Helped save ~3,300 enslaved people
• Founded Negro School for Children in Philadelphia
• Active in prison reform and employment assistance
• Daughter Abigail founded Women's Prison Association, Isaac T. Hopper Home

Underground Railroad Routes & Terminology

Major Routes from Baltimore:

• Through Pennsylvania → New York → Niagara Falls/Lake Ontario → Ontario, Canada
• Through Appalachians → Western Reserve → Lake Erie → Canada
• Some routes led to Mexico (slavery already abolished) or Caribbean Islands
• Earlier routes went south to Spanish-controlled Florida

Rail Terminology Used:

• Conductors - Guides who led freedom seekers
• Passengers/Cargo - Escaping enslaved people
• Stations - Hiding places and safe houses
• Station Masters - People providing shelter
• Agents - People helping organize escapes
• Stockholders - Financial supporters
• Ticket - Permission/passage to travel
• Drinking Gourd - Big Dipper constellation pointing to North Star
• Freedom Train/Gospel Train - The Underground Railroad itself

Canadian Destinations

Fort Malden (Amherstburg, Ontario)

• "Principal terminus of the Underground Railroad of the west" (Levi Coffin)
• Chief entry point for escaped slaves entering Canada
• ~30 people per day arriving by steamboat after 1850
• Steamboats like the Sultana made frequent trips between Great Lakes ports

Settlement Patterns:

• 30,000+ individuals escaped to Ontario during 20-year peak (1840-1860)
• Main settlement region: Triangle bordered by Niagara Falls, Toronto, Windsor
• Black Canadian communities flourished in southern Ontario
• Many returned to U.S. during Civil War to enlist in Union Army
• Some returned south after war to reconnect with families

Historical Context

Why "Underground Railroad"?

• Name first appeared in 1839 Washington newspaper
• Young slave mentioned "a railroad that went underground all the way to Boston"
• Slave catchers losing track of fugitives declared: "There must be an underground railroad somewhere"
• Name stuck because it captured the mysterious, hidden nature of the network

Travel Conditions:

• Mostly walked or rode wagons (often hiding under hay)
• Sometimes used boats or actual above-ground trains
• Routes purposely indirect and frequently changed to confuse pursuers
• Especially difficult for women with young children
• Guided by North Star at night

Risks:

• Fugitive Slave Acts allowed slave owners to track escapees even in free states
• Punishment for being caught was severe
• Slave catchers operated with legal authority
• Education forbidden for enslaved people, making escape planning difficult
• Station masters and conductors faced legal prosecution and violence

Related Hometown History Episodes

Episodes About Levi Coffin:

• Episode 74 - "The Road to Freedom" (Part 1)
• Episode 75 - "The Road to Freedom" (Part 2)

Related Themes:

• Episodes about pre-Civil War abolition efforts
• Stories of courage and community resistance
• Baltimore-area historical events

Sources & Further Reading

Primary Historical Sources:

• Eric Foner, Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad (2015)
• The Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850 (U.S. Congressional Records)
• Pennsylvania Abolition Society records
• Levi Coffin, Reminiscences of Levi Coffin (1876)

Biographical Sources:

• Catherine Clinton, Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom (2004)
• Sarah Bradford, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman (1869)
• Isaac T. Hopper: A True Life by Lydia Maria Child (1853)

Historical Context:

• Library of Congress - Underground Railroad Digital Collection
• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park (Maryland)
• Fort Malden National Historic Site (Amherstburg, Ontario)

Statistical Data:

• Ontario settlement records (30,000+ escaped slaves, 1840-1860)
• Fort Malden entry records (30 per day average, 1850-1860)
• Estimated rescues by major conductors (sourced from historical accounts)

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