The

life of Robert Smalls (1839 1915)

My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.

Swonga

 Robert works his way up thru the ranks

Stevedore, loading and unloading Repair and rig sails Becomes a foreman Wheelman-status

Married Hannah Jones Dec 24, 1856

 In 1858 Elizabeth is born.

Freedom is more than just personal now. Arranges to buy freedom of wife and daughter for $800 cash from Kingman.

 If captured . . . blow up the ship.

Robert knows the waterways, the codes, the signals, and the lay of the mines. Robert will wear the Captains hat and coat. It will be a family-aair. Just be ready for the right time.

Admiral Du Pont wrote, . . . The pilot is quite intelligent and gave some valuable information about the abandonment of Stono. . .

That boat that the seven ni**ers captured down to Charleston runs up here some times. It is in the government service it is the Planter and it is the handsomest steamer that runs on this river it is one hundred and twenty feet long I should judge and about twenty ve feet beam it has three decks and two gang ways on each side of the lower deck it has a high pressure engine and side wheels and to take it all in all it is the prettiest craft that travels these waters and if the ni**ers got what she was worth they can be comfortably without work the rest of there days for she had over fty thousand dollars worth of freight on board when captured. Private Rufus P. Munyan, Co. D of the 18th Conn. Infantry.

In August 1862 two Union generals sent Smalls and missionary Manseld French to Washington, D.C. to meet with Secretary of War Stanton and President Lincoln. Their request to recruit 5000 black troops was soon granted. Charismatic and articulate, Smalls was sent on a speaking tour of New York to raise support for the Union cause. There Smalls was presented an engraved gold medal by the colored citizens of New York for his heroism, his love of liberty and his patriotism.

 First public reading may have been in Port Royal

Engagement at Secessionville, May 31, 1862 Occupation of Edisto Island, June 3, 1862 Action on Simmons Blu, June 23, 1862 Aair on Skull Creek, S.C., September 24, 1862 Aair at Kirks Blu, October 18, 1862

Skirmish at Coosawatchie and Engagements at near Pocotaligo, S.C., October 21, 1862 Expedition up St. Marys River, January 23 - February 1, 1863 The Campaign of the Carolinas December 31, 1864 - March 24, 1865 and April 10 - May 28, 1865 Destruction of Locomotives and Rolling Stock Between Sumterville and Camden, S.C. April 1, 1865 Expedition to Camden, S.C., April 5 - 25, 1865

While in Philadelphia Smalls was ejected from a public streetcar by whites. Local Philadelphians were outraged. City streetcars were integrated by 1867. 91 years later Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus.

Robert Smalls served ve terms as a U.S. Congressman during Reconstruction. For nearly 20 years he served as U. S. Collector of Customs in Beaufort, S.C., where he lived as owner in the house in which he had been a slave.
April 1904

2004

My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.