1836 || Family Attempts to Escape by Boat (1836)

A family of freedom seekers attempts to escape via boat // Schomburg Center, New York Public Library
1853 || Freedom Seekers Set Out for Canada (1853)

A group of freedom seekers follow the North Star towards Canada, as depicted in the Uncle Tom’s Almanac published in 1853 // Schomburg Center, New York Public Library
1856 || Six Freedom Seekers Escape on Two Horses (1872)

The escape of six freedom seekers from Maryland in 1856, depicted in William Still’s The Underground Railroad (1872); illustration by John Osler // Schomburg Center, New York Public Library
1857 || Cambridge Stampede Liberates 28 African Americans (1872)

A group of an enslaved families escape from Cambridge, MD following advice from Harriet Tubman; depicted in William Still’s The Underground Railroad (1872); illustration by John Osler // House Divided)
c. 1858 || Jacob Lawrence Depicts Harriet Tubman (1967)

“Forward” by African American artist Jacob Lawrence depicts Harriet Tubman carrying a revolver while leading a group of runaways to freedom // North Carolina Museum of Art
1861 || Frank Leslie’s Depicts Contrabands at Fort Monroe (1861)

“Stampede Among the Negroes in Virginia,” Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, June 8, 1861 // Library of Congress
1861 || Harpers Depicts Contrabands Fleeing to Fort Monroe (1861)

“Stampede of Slaves from Hampton to Fortress Monroe,” Harper’s Weekly, August 17, 1861 // Library of Congress
1862 || Eastman Johnson Depicts Virginia Contrabands (1862)
c. 1862 || “On To Liberty” by Theodor Kaufmann (1867)

“On To Liberty” by Theodor Kaufmann depicts a group of wartime runaways or contrabands // The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1863 || Contrabands Coming Into Camp (1863)

Sketch by Alfred Waud, Harpers Weekly, January 31, 1863
1863 || Enslaved from Davis Plantation in Mississippi (1863)

Freed slaves from the Jefferson Davis plantation arrive behind Union lines at Chickasaw Bayou in 1863. By Fred B. Schell // House Divided Project
1864 || Sailing to Safety (1864)
1864 || Fleeing to Freedom (1864)

Contrabands escaping to Union lines by Aflred R. Waud. Harper’s Weekly 1864 // House Divided Project
1864 || Contrabands Entering Union Lines (1864)

“The War in Virginia – Contrabands coming to the Union camp,” Sketch by Edwin Forbes, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, August 20, 1864