Enslaved Person, Pilot, Sailor, Mariner, Politician

Robert Smalls

1839 – 1915

Enslaved wheelman of the Charleston steamer Planter, who took her out of the harbor past the Confederate batteries in May 1862 and delivered her to the blockading squadron.

Where Smalls lived in Charleston before May 1862 has not been established here, and no address is claimed for him.

Charleston

Smalls was enslaved and working as a crewman aboard the steamer Planter in Charleston Harbor when the war began. Her owners contracted her to the Confederate army as a transport, and Smalls served aboard as a pilot. Before dawn on 13 May 1862 he took the vessel out of the harbor, freeing himself, his family and several other enslaved crewmen — giving the proper signals as he passed the batteries, and wearing the captain's hat to disguise himself — and delivered her to the United States blockading squadron.

He afterwards piloted Federal vessels in the operations against the Charleston defences, and was aboard the ironclad Keokuk when she was disabled by fire from the harbor forts on 7 April 1863; he was injured. He was later promoted captain and given command of the Planter.

Life

Born in Beaufort in 1839, enslaved by a local planter. After the war he became a leader of his community during Reconstruction, serving in the South Carolina assembly and senate and then five nonconsecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives between 1875 and 1887. He died in February 1915.

Service

  1. rank not establishedPlanter · Confederate noneuntil 13 May 1862NPS, Robert Smalls
  2. rank not establishedPlanter · Union navyfrom 13 May 1862NPS, Robert Smalls

Each rank is the rank held at the time described. A later promotion is shown only in its own dated entry.

Places

Not yet documented.

Burial

Not yet documented.

What is established, and on whose authority

  • verifiedBorn in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1839, enslaved by a local planter.NPS, Robert Smalls
  • verifiedEnslaved crewman and pilot aboard the steamer Planter in Charleston Harbor, contracted to the Confederate army as a transport.NPS, Robert Smalls
  • verifiedOn 13 May 1862 took the Planter out of Charleston Harbor, freeing himself, his family and several other enslaved crewmen, and turned her over to the United States Navy.NPS, Robert Smalls
  • verifiedPiloted United States naval vessels against the Charleston defences, and was injured aboard the Keokuk when she was sunk in April 1863.NPS, Robert Smalls
  • verifiedPromoted captain and given command of the Planter.NPS, Robert Smalls
  • verifiedServed five nonconsecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives between 1875 and 1887.NPS, Robert Smalls
  • verifiedDied in February 1915.NPS, Robert Smalls
  • not establishedBurial place.no source

Identity: verified. Last checked 31 August 2026.

Corrections to this record are welcome through the publisher.