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Robert Smalls Decides to Go for It
via Old Picture of the Day by PJM on May 12, 2008
I am always inspired by stories of the underdog or the oppressed rising above their circumstances. That is why Robert Smalls is one of my favorite historical figures. It was on this day, May 13, in the year 1862, that Robert Smalls decided to go for it.You see, Robert Smalls was born in 1839 in Beaufort, South Carolina. Being born black in Beaufort in 1839 meant being born a slave. Robert grew up a slave. As a young man, he was assigned to dock work in Charleston, South Carolina. He eventually was told to work on a Confederate Transport Ship, the "Planter". The "Planter" was a high-pressure, side-wheel steamer, one hundred and forty feet in length, and about fifty feet beam, and drew about five feet of water. She was built to be a Cotton transport boat, but with the outbreak of the unpleasantness of 1861, she was commissioned by the Rebel Navy as a gunboat. Robert was given the job of being the helmsman of this Confederate Vessel.Robert hatched a plan that was so daring it was almost unthinkable . . . he would commandeer the Planter, and use it to steam himself, the crew, and all their families to safety in the North. He shared his plans with the slave crew, and the crew agreed to go along. Robert planned the escape, but waited patiently for the perfect opportunity to execute it.It was the evening of May 12 that the white confederate officers decided to go onshore to spend the night, as they were planning to take the planter on an expedition the next day. Robert saw this as his chance. He loaded his family, and the family of the slave crew on board the Planter. At about 3:00 AM on the morning of May 13, Robert fired up the boiler, and built a strong head of steam, and pulled the ship out of the docks. The tide was against them that morning, and they did not reach Fort Sumter until daylight. Robert now faced his greatest greatest danger . . . the guns of Fort Sumter, which was under Confederate control. Smalls knew the secret signal, and as he passed the boat directly under the walls of Sumter, he gave the usual signal of two long pulls and a jerk at the whistle-cord, and they safely passed the Sumter Guards. Once out of range of the rebel guns he faced the new danger of steaming a Confederate warship directly at the Union Fleet. He had planned for this danger as well, and he hoisted the white flag of surrender, while steaming directly for the Union steamer Augusta. Captain Parrott, of the latter vessel saw the flag, and held his fire. He then heard their incredible story, and forwarded them on to Commodore Dupont. The crew and their families were warmly cared for by DuPont, who proposed that the US Congress make an appropriation of $20,000 as a reward to the Slaves who had so distinguished themselves by this gallant service.
In December 1863 Smalls became the first black captain of a vessel in the service of the United States Navy. On April 7, 1863 Smalls piloted the ironclad Keokuk in a Union attack on Fort Sumter, the very fort around which he had escaped.Smalls was elected to the United States Congress as a Republican in 1875. He served in the 44th, 45th, 47th, 48th, and 49th U.S. Congresses.So today, we tip our hats to Robert Smalls, and his daring escape, and his choice to not let his circumstances keep him from accomplishing great things.Shared by:
