Supporters of the Underground Railroad used words railroad conductors employed everyday to create their own code as secret language in order to help slaves escape. Railroad language was chosen because the railroad was an emerging form of transportation and its communication language was not widespread. Code words would be used in letters to “agents” so that if they were intercepted they could not be caught. Underground Railroad code was also used in songs sung by slaves to communicate among each other without their masters being aware.
These are the most commonly used code words and their meanings:
Agent
Coordinator, who plotted courses of escape and made contacts.
Baggage
Fugitive slaves carried by Underground Railroad workers.
Bundles of wood
Fugitives that were expected.
Canaan
Canada
Conductor
Person who directly transported slaves
Drinking Gourd
Big Dipper and the North Star
Flying bondsmen
The number of escaping slaves
Forwarding
Taking slaves from station to station
Freedom train
The Underground Railroad
French leave
Sudden departure
Gospel train
The Underground Railroad
Heaven
Canada, freedom
Stockholder
Those who donated money, food, clothing.
Load of potatoes
Escaping slaves hidden under farm produce in a wagon
Moses
Harriet Tubman
Operator
Person who helped freedom seekers as a conductor or agent
Parcel
Fugitives that were expected
Patter roller
Bounty hunter hired to capture slaves
Preachers
Leaders of and spokespersons for the Underground Railroad
Promised Land
Canada
River Jordan
Ohio River
Shepherds
People who encouraged slaves to escape and escorted them
Station
Place of safety and temporary refuge, a safe house
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