Though under attack by Confederate ships, Smalls defied the ship’s captain desire to surrender, fearing that if the Black crewmen were taken captive, that they would certainly face death. Smalls took over, and piloted out of range. For his efforts, Smalls was named the official captain of the ship.
After the war, Smalls became a businessman and politician, serving in both the South Carolina House of Representatives and the Senate during Reconstruction.
He was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and continued to work on behalf of Blacks in his home state into the 20th Century.
In 2007, Smalls became the first African-American to have an Army vessel named after him.
Smalls died in 1915 at the age of 75.
(Photo: U.S. Army)
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Little Known Black History Fact: Robert Smalls was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
