Robert Smalls – Hero of the Civil War
Robert Smalls is best known as a hero of the United States Civil War. He and a crew of slaves commandeered the Confederate States Ship “Planter” and turned it over to the United States Navy.
The Mission
This entire mission was filled with danger. Smalls and crew were aware that failure of the mission would result in torture and death to all aboard.
Smalls, a slave, was the pilot of the CSS “Planter”. Operating under the command of the White officers, Smalls was a very competent pilot, familiar with the waters, and the complicated procedures required to sail out of the harbor.
The procedures required complicated maneuvers, whistle signals and responses to those signals.
Smalls avoided detection by 100% compliance of all maneuvers, signals, and responses as well as donning the clothing of the White Captain and mimicking his mannerisms.
Bravery and Dedication
Bravery and dedication was demonstrated not only by the crew, but the families who were sneaked on board.
Smalls told his wife, Hannah, that after the mission was completed, he would return to pick her up. She refused the offer, taking a lead from Ruth in the Bible, and telling her husband that she would be with him and if it ended in failure she would die with him.
The mission was undertaken with the Planter flying the Confederate flag, however as they approached the United States Ship “Onward” the flag was replaced with a white sheet as a show of surrender.
Lt. Nickels of the USS Onward, came aboard the CSS Planter, hauled down the white flag and ran up the flag of the United States.
The mission was undertaken, 13 May 1862 during the American Civil War.
Rewards
Smalls and the crew were provided with the value of the ship for their actions. It is acknowledged that the appraised value was a lowball one.
Because of his act of bravery, Robert Smalls was given the opportunity to speak to many people of influence. One of those was President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
When asked what prompted him to take such action, his response was one word. “Freedom!”
This is the basis of President Lincoln reexamining his decision to exclude slaves from the Union army. This change in position added in excess of 100,000 Black troops to the war effort and turned the tide of the war.
While this single event is enough to earn Smalls a place in history, he has many more significant accomplishments in service to the citizens of South Carolina and the nation.
The Early Life of Robert Smalls
Robert Smalls was born a slave in Beaufort, South Carolina, and fortunate enough to spend the first 12 years of his life living and learning from his mother who was a favored Slave of owners, the McKee’s.
At the age of 12, Robert was sent to Charleston from Beaufort. There, being hired out to other slave owners, he was able to learn the art of navigating the waters, and to finally become a seaman.
Charleston is where he found himself when Fort Sumter was bombarded in April of 1861. The man who owned him, McKee, hired him out as a stevedore aboard the CSS Planter just as hostilities were getting underway. The owner received the wage of $15.00 per month, however McKee was a generous man and gave Smalls $1.00 of that amount each month.
Smalls was an entrepreneur and used his money to purchase goods which he sold on the Wharf where he worked. He saved his money, later purchasing his wife’s freedom.
The Value of Education
A strong believer in education, Smalls hired a tutor and was an eager learner. He arose at 5:00 am each morning and studied for 2 hours before the tutor arrived for his 1 hour lesson.
Well respected, he was elected to the house and senate of South Carolina and the United States House of Representatives.
- Smalls proposed the first legislation for compulsory schools for ALL students in South Carolina. This was one of the first if not the first in the nation. This was the precursor of the Public Schools we enjoy today.
- As a result of his efforts, Paris Island, Marine Training base is located in South Carolina. As many as half of all US Marines are trained here.
Because of his work ethic and wise financial dealings, Robert Smalls accumulated significant wealth. When the McKee’s home was put up for sale, he was able to purchase it. (The McKee’s were the family that owned Robert Smalls during his childhood.)
This was the very same house where he had spent his first 12 years. He was also able to purchase other homes in the up-scale neighborhood.
When Smalls returned to Beaufort after the war, the McKee’s were not doing well. He took them into his house, which he had purchased, and where he had been raised for 12 years.
He had people take care of Mrs. McKee who was in declining health, both physically and mentally. He allowed her to stay in the main bedroom which she had occupied in earlier years when she owned Smalls.
As a show of his gentle nature, he always brought her breakfast in the morning, choosing to do this act of kindness himself. When asked why, he replied that when he had been there, they showed him kindness.
You have a good summary of the life and contributions of Robert Smalls, however, the purpose of these articles is to inform you about people, events and locations that are a part of our history, but have been largely overlooked. These stories serve not only to inform, but to inspire ALL members of our country.
To those who want more information, please continue to read the information below.
Below, you will find other articles and videos which provide a treasure trove of information on this remarkable man.
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John C Abercrombie
Amazing Black History
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I believe that you will love Audible as much as I do and find it an excellent way to inform and entertain yourself.
May I suggest as one of your books the following:
Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape from Slavery to Union Hero
The following is a great book for the younger reader
Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story
Gullah Statesman: Robert Smalls from Slavery to Congress, 1839-1915
Yearning to Breathe Free – Book by Dr. Andrew Billingsley, forward by Jim Clyburn. Note: before becoming a United States representative from South Carolina, Clyburn was a History Teacher.
The below book is also available as a singular sale or with the Kindle Unlimited offer, available free along with over 1,000,000 other titles.
Get 1 month of Kindle Unlimited free
The Wheelman: How the Slave Robert Smalls Stole a Warship and Became King Kindle Edition
The Freedom Ship of Robert Smalls (Young Palmetto Books) Hardcover – February 15, 2018
The following video is short and suitable for young children.
The following video is a TEDx talk by Michael Boulware Moore, great great grandson of Robert Smalls
Michael B Moore has been working with South Carolina and in 2020, Charleston will be honored with the opening of the International African American Museum. Please plan a visit to this remarkable tribute to the people who built this country.
In honor of Robert Smalls, the United States has a ship named in his honor, the Major General Robert Smalls. Smalls was a Major General in the South Carolina Militia
Click Here to see the ship MG Robert Smalls
https://www.army.mil/article/4877/latest_army_vessel_honors_black_american_hero
There is a traveling exhibit dedicated to the memory of Robert Smalls
A picture and information on the Robert Smalls house in Beaufort, SC. This is the house that he purchased when it was put up for sale and in which he allowed Mrs. McKee to spend her last days.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls_House
The Tabernacle Baptist Church in Beaufort, SC with a stature of Robert Smalls
https://www.facebook.com/Tbcbeaufort/?rf=115996211755444
Additional information about the Tabernacle Baptist Church 907 Cravens St. Beaufort, SC
http://www.beaufortonline.com/tabernacle-baptist-church-907-craven-street-beaufort-sc/
South Carolina Hall of Fame – honors Robert Smalls. This video also shows Benjamin “Pitchfork” Tillman one of the founders and highly honored persons on the campus of Clemson University. Tillman is an avowed racist and adversary of Smalls.
South Carolina Educational Television production
Dr. Helen Boulware Moore, great grand daughter of Robert Smalls
The International African American Museum – coming to Charleston, SC in 2020. For a link, click below.
Presentation by Dr. Billingsley into the life of Robert Smalls
Additional article on Robert Smalls
http://civilwardailygazette.com/slaves-hijack-the-css-planter-sail-it-to-freedom/
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John C Abercrombie
Wow, this was great. Keep writing this kind of stories, you will get a lot of people to this text if you continue writing this.