What an amazing character! Someone needs to make a movie about this man. I’m so glad a friend shared this with me, but really disgusted that we never learned about him in school. Not only the obvious mind control and promoting racism that NOT teaching about people like him is part of-but seriously can you imagine history class full of biographies like THIS?!? No one would avoid studying due to the crushing boredom and utter irrelevance of the material!
Do you think that the structure as well as the omissions are designed to keep up bored, stupid and compliant? Maybe?
Blessings,
ohnwentsya
I Love Being Black
#BlackHistory365 #OurStory #Hero
May 12, 1862: Robert Smalls steals a Confederate ship…
It has just gotten dark on the evening of May 12, 1862. General Roswell Ripley and the other white confederate officers of the Steamer Planter have just gone ashore to attend a party in Charleston, leaving the black crew alone. This was not unusual except that the crew had planned on these events. Quickly, the black crew’s families left their hiding places on other vessels and came aboard the Planter.
Robert Smalls was the quartermaster, or wheelman of the ship. In this capacity he had become knowledgeable of all navigation channels in Charleston harbor as well as all the gun and troop positions of the confederate armies guarding the harbor. Smalls and the other slaves quietly got the ship underway and headed for the mouth of the harbor and the blockading Union fleet. Soon they would have to pass under the guns of Fort Sumter. To increase their chances of success, Smalls donned the clothing of Planter’s confederate captain. The trick apparently worked because they are not fired upon until after they are out of range.
Planter eventually approached the U.S.S. Onward, of the blockading fleet to surrender. She brought with her a 24-pound howitzer, a 32-pound pivot gun, a 7-inch rifle and 4 smooth-bore cannons. Planter had served as headquarters ship for General Ripley and was a valuable ship because she could carry as many as one thousand troops and her shallow draft gave her freedom throughout much of the coastal waters.
Robert Smalls had been born on the Sea Islands and knew the waters from Beaufort, South Carolina to Florida. Together they were important prizes for the Union. For the Benefit of Robert Smalls and Others….. Generally, any enemy ships taken in this manner are treated as prizes for the men who performed the courageous act. Commander Du Pont submitted the claim’s for these men to Washington despite his misgivings that they would be honored. Since these men had been slaves and the Dred Scott Decision said they were merely contraband, it took a special act of congress to award the ship as a prize, and even so it was valued at $9168, or 1/3 it’s true value.
Robert Smalls was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, Company B, 33rd Regiment, United States Colored Troops. He was then detailed as Pilot to the Planter. Later Smalls was assigned to the ironclad Keokuk for an attack into Charleston Harbor. Things soon went awry and the order of battle was abandoned, each ship fighting for itself. Keokuk eventually suffered over 90 shell hits and was soon sent to the bottom. Smalls survived and was transferred back to Planter.
In late November of 1863, Planter saw action that prompted it’s white captain to surrender. Smalls knew he could expect extremely poor treatment from the confederates and instead urged the gunners to carry on. The captain took cover in the coal bin for the duration of the battle while the crew fought on under Smalls’ leadership. This action prompted the dismissal of the captain of record and the promotion of Robert Smalls to the position of Captain.
Immediately following the war, Smalls returned to his native Beaufort, where he purchased his former master’s house at 512 Prince St. His mother Lydia lived with him for the remainder of her life. He allowed his former master’s wife (Jane Bond McKee, who was elderly) to move back in the home prior to her death.
Robert Smalls eventually became a congressman after the Civil War. He lived in Beaufort, SC. There is a memorial bust of him in front of the African Baptist Church in Beaufort, SC.
Spirit In Action 