Robert Smalls
Robert Smalls was a United States political figure and civil war hero who freed himself from slavery by abducting a Confederate steam boat and bringing it under the Union command during the blockade in 1862.1
Smalls served both in the Union Navy and Army and helped to form the first military unit consisting entirely of ex-slaves. He continued to fight for the north until the end of the conflict. After the war Smalls served for ten years in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing his home state of South Carolina.1
A 2008 children's book, American Heroes: Robert Smalls, the Boat Thief, written by Robert Kennedy Jr, recounts the tale of the American hero.2
Fast Facts
- Born: April 5, 1839
- Died: February 22, 1915
- Was a Republican1
- Received a prize of $1500 for the Planter3
- Served several terms in Congress4
The Planter Escape
Smalls was assigned to the Planter, a Confederate steamer, at the start of the war. He served as a helmsman and a pilot, professions that gave him intimate knowledge of the coasts of South and North Carolina. On May 13, 1862, he escaped Confederate waters in a bold maneuver, deceiving several forts and picking up his family and friends along the way.3
The Planter, which carried ammunition and other vital war supplies, was reassigned to the Union Navy and later to the Army. Smalls went on fighting for the north and eventually became the ship's captain.3
Related Pages on Mahalo
U.S. Navy | Abraham Lincoln | U.S. Army
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