This incident occurred before the Civil War, but indicates the canal was known to some of those traveling north and may have been used by others.
James Curry, excerpt from Narrative of James Curry, A Fugitive Slave, published in The Liberator,
10 January 1840
The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and the Underground Railroad
by Timothy R. Snyder
It has long been said that the C&O Canal was a part of the Underground Railroad used by slaves to escape from bondage during the American Antebellum Era. Take, for example, the below quote from a travel brochure issued to Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passengers, circa 1923:
COMMITTED,
TO the jail of Loudoun county, as a runaway, on the 3d inst. a negro man, who calls himself
ELIAS DOWLING.
He is supposed to be 25 years of age, is about 6 feet high, not very black, has a scar on his forehead, and a blemish on the sight of his left eye. —Says he belongs to Charles Dickinson, of Louisa county, Va. and has been hired to William Boxler, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The owner of said negro is requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges, and take him away, otherwise he will be disposed of according to law.
First Division Second Residency
of the Chs & Ohio Canal 26th July 1830
Chs & Ohio Canal Company
TO Charles Wallace Dr
TO 6 days services of negro man Regin [?] axeman in the Employ of the Corps of Engineers at 87 1/2 cts per day including board being between the 1st and 20th July inst. - $5.25
Recd 26th July 1830 of Daniel VanShyke [?]
Resident Engineer five dollars and twenty five cents in full of the above accounting
Charles Wallace
First Division Second Residency
of the Chs & Ohio Canal 17th Nov. 1829
Chs & Ohio Canal Company
To Knox Hale & Co. Dr
To 7 days service of negro man Robert as axeman in the Employ of the Corps of Engineers from the 10th to the 17th of August last inclusive at 80 cts per day including board - $5.60
Recd 8th July 1830 of Daniel [?]
Resident Engineer five 60/100 dollars in full of the above account
Knox L. Holak & Co. [?]