What did Robert Smalls contribute to the Civil War?
Robert Smalls did something unimaginable: In the midst of the Civil War, this black male slave commandeered a Confederate ship and delivered its 16 black men, women and children passengers from slavery to freedom. From slave to sailor to Congressman, read on for more about this extraordinary person.
What did Robert Smalls accomplish?
Robert Smalls was an enslaved African American who escaped to freedom in a Confederate supply ship and eventually became a sea captain for the Union Navy. After the war, he became a successful businessman and politician serving in both houses of the South Carolina legislature.
What was so remarkable about Robert Smalls and his journey in May of 1862?
Robert Smalls was a 23-year-old slave pressed into service for the Confederacy aboard a warship called the Planter. For nearly a year, he quietly observed the movements of the ship and its crew. Just before dawn on May 13, 1862, Smalls took his chance.
Why is Robert Smalls a hero?
Recognized for his bravery and skill, Smalls became one of the first African American pilots in the United States Navy. He was wounded April 7, 1863 while piloting the USS Keokuk during the ironclad attack on Fort Sumter. He also served as a captain for the US Navy during the siege of Charleston, 1863-1865.
What political party was Robert Smalls?
Republican Party
What did Robert Smalls do during reconstruction?
Robert Smalls, (born April 5, 1839, Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.—died February 23, 1915, Beaufort), African American slave who became a naval hero for the Union in the American Civil War and went on to serve as a congressman from South Carolina during Reconstruction.
How many people did Robert Smalls save?
In fewer than four hours, Robert Smalls had done something unimaginable: In the midst of the Civil War, this black male slave had commandeered a heavily armed Confederate ship and delivered its 17 black passengers (nine men, five women and three children) from slavery to freedom.
What was the name of the ship Robert Smalls used to escape to the North?
Piloting both the Planter, which was re–outfitted as a troop transport, and later the ironclad Keokuk, Smalls used his intimate knowledge of the South Carolina Sea Islands to advance the Union military campaign in nearly 17 engagements. Smalls’s public career began during the war.
What was Robert Smalls childhood like?
Robert Smalls was born on April 5, 1839 in Beaufort, South Carolina. His mother, Lydia Polite, was a forty-three-year-old slave owned by Henry McKee. Robert grew up working as a slave for the McKee family. He lived with his mother in a small cabin behind the large McKee house.
What did Robert Smalls do in the spring of 1868?
Morgan Freeman, Narrator: In the spring of 1868 Robert Smalls was elected to the South Carolina State House of Representatives where he joined the black majority in the legislature. It was the only state in the Union to be dominated politically by African Americans.
When was Robert Small born?
A
Who was Robert Smalls wife?
Annie E. Wiggm. 1890–1895
What did African American soldiers face in addition to combat?
In addition to the perils of war faced by all Civil War soldiers, black soldiers faced additional problems stemming from racial prejudice. Racial discrimination was prevalent even in the North, and discriminatory practices permeated the U.S. military.
Why is the civil war so deadly?
One reason why the Civil War was so lethal was the introduction of improved weaponry. Cone-shaped bullets replaced musket balls, and beginning in 1862, smooth-bore muskets were replaced with rifles with grooved barrels, which imparted spin on a bullet and allowed a soldier to hit a target a quarter of a mile away.
What was the deadliest weapon in the Civil War?
LeMat Pistol
What was the most deadly day of the Civil War?
Beginning early on the morning of September 17, 1862, Confederate and Union troops in the Civil War clash near Maryland’s Antietam Creek in the bloodiest single day in American military history. The Battle of Antietam marked the culmination of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the Northern states.
Who was the worst Confederate general?
General Braxton Bragg