Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery. In 1849 she fled to Philadelphia where, as a conductor on the underground railroad, she made 18 sorties into the South, liberating over 300 slaves. Ms. Tubman also served as a spy and nurse for the Union army during the Civil War. Harriet Tubman – Authentic American Hero. The figure of Harriet Tubman, the well-known slave who led many to freedom, is featured prominently in this monument. It was commissioned by the African-American Historical and Cultural Society of Bucks County and was dedicated in 2006. Some Bristol Borough families can trace their family roots directly to Harriet Tubman, and many others have ancestors who were freed or escaped slaves.