Final answer:
Harriet Tubman distinguished her service during the U.S. Civil War by being an armed scout and spy for the Union Army, specifically leading the Combahee River Raid. She had difficulty receiving compensation post-war and was eventually granted a pension as a veteran's widow, reflecting the gender and racial biases of the era.
Step-by-step explanation:
Harriet Tubman's Civil War Service
The activity that distinguished Harriet Ross Tubman during the U.S. Civil War was her role as an armed scout and spy for the Union Army. Unlike many other women of her time, Tubman not only helped over three hundred slaves escape through the Underground Railroad but also actively participated in military operations. One of her most notable contributions was her involvement in the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina, where she guided Union boats around Confederate mines, leading to the rescue of more than 700 enslaved individuals.
Regarding compensation for her military service, for many years after the war, Tubman struggled to receive regular payment. She was initially denied a pension for her service, predominantly because of her gender and the color of her skin. It wasn't until much later in her life that Congress finally awarded her a pension, not for her own service, but as the widow of a veteran, which was far less than her male counterparts would have received for similar acts of bravery and valor in the war.