Robert Smalls
Beaufort, SC
Born a slave in Beaufort in 1839, Robert Smalls lived to serve as a Congressman
of the United States.
In 1862, Smalls was a pilot on the steamer Planter, used to transport guns and ammunition
for the Confederate cause. On the evening of May 12, 1862, while safely docked in the port
of Charleston, the white Confederate officers of the Planter went ashore to attend a party,
leaving the black crew alone to tend to chores. This was not unusual because they were
deep within the southern stronghold and behind the guns of Fort Sumter. What was
unusual was that Smalls had planned on this and had the black crew's families in hiding places
nearby. They quickly came aboard the Planter.
Robert Smalls had been the wheelman of the ship and was familiar with Charleston harbor
as well as all the gun and troop positions of the Confederate armies guarding it. Smalls and
the other slaves got underway and headed for the mouth of the harbor. In order to
pass under the guns of Fort Sumter, Smalls donned the uniform of Planter's Confederate
captain. They were not discovered until after they were out of range and approaching the
Union blockade ships. Smalls surrendered the Planter to the U.S.S. Onward.
Robert Smalls was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, Company B, 33rd Regiment, United
States Colored Troops. He was then assigned as Pilot to the Planter. Later Smalls was
transferred to the ironclad Keokuk for an ill-fated attack into Charleston Harbor. Keokuk
suffered almost 100 shell hits and went to the bottom. Smalls survived and was transferred
back to Planter.
In November of 1863, Planter became engaged in a battle that went very poorly for the
steamer. As it's Union captain contemplated surrender, Smalls urged the gunners to carry
on. Under Smalls' leadership their efforts kept the Planter from falling back into the hands
of the Confederate forces. After this action, the captain was dismissed and Robert Smalls
was promoted to the position of Captain.
His career as a freedman includes service as a delegate in the 1868 and 1895 State
Constitutional Conventions, election to the SC House and Senate and 9 years in
Congress.
He died in 1915 and is buried here
in the churchyard of Tabernacle
Baptist Church.
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