On April 5, 1839 Robert Smalls was born enslaved in Beaufort S.C. Hating slavery all his life, he determined early that he would be free. Working around Charleston’s seaport, he taught himself to read, write and pilot steamships. He learned to master tricky currents. He maneuvered around the harbors and docks so well that the southern ship owners came to rely on his expertise.
Early on the morning of May 13, 1862, twelves month into the Civil War, he secreted his wife, three children and 12 escaped slaves aboard the Planter, a Confederate Steamship. He piloted the steamer through Confederate waters flying the Rebel flag. Once he cleared the range of the Rebel cannon, making it safely to Union waters, he hoisted a white flag of truce and turned the ship over to the commanding officer of the Union fleet.
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