Robert Smalls: From Escape to Civil War Hero

Robert Smalls, an enslaved Black man, commandeered a Confederate ship, the Planter, and surrendered it to the Union, delivering 17 enslaved people to freedom. His actions earned him recognition as a Civil War hero. Smalls met President Lincoln, influencing the enlistment of Black men in the Union Army. He served in the Army and Navy, contributing to the Union's efforts. Smalls later became the first Black man to command a U.S. naval vessel.

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