Robert Smalls

Robert Smalls

April 5, 1839 - February 23, 1915

Robert Smalls was the finesse king.

Born in Beaufort South Carolina, Smalls was a house slave to John K. McKee.

In 1839 McKee sent Smalls to Charleston to work as a waiter, shiprigger and sailor. McKee kept all his wages.

Upon turning 18, Smalls negotiated to receive all but $15 of his pay. Smalls used this to unite his family by buying his wife and daughter from their owner for $800.

In 1861, Smalls was hired as a deckhand for a Confederate steamer Planter commanded by the Second Military district of South Carolina. The planter carried military weapon and equipment to Confederate forts.

BINGO! That’s when Smalls decided to keep it real and become a Maverick in Black History.

On May 13th 1862, smalls was left to guard the ship as the crewman went ashore for the evening Smalls loaded the ship with his wife, kids and 12 other slaves from the city and escaped.

Smalls even finessed 4 Confederate ship checkpoints by knowing the Confederate whistle signal.

GOT EM!

Smalls didn’t pull up to the Union blockage empty handed. Not only had he given freedom to these families he also delivered to the Union a Confederate naval code book, armaments, and the ship.

This act was so courageous it is said to influence Lincoln’s decision to consider allowing Blacks into the Union Army.

Today in Maverick History, we salute Robert Smalls for his brave spirit. Smalls’ dreams powered his actions. He actions produced freedom

#DOYOU

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MAV fact: By late 1863 he returned to the war zone to pilot the Planter, now a Union war vessel. In December 1863 he was promoted to Captain of the vessel, becoming the first African American to hold that rank in the history of the United States Navy.

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For more information on this Maverick follow the link ---> http://www.robertsmalls.org/;http://bioguide.congress.gov/scrip