National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-06
GEN. ROBERT sMALLs.
Sketch of One of tho Most Remark
able Characters in tho House of Rep

One Of the most remarkable men In the
House Of Representatives is Gen. Robert
Smalls, whose picture is presented above.
He was born at Beaufort, S. c., on the
9Th of April, 1889, and now lives on the
very place where he was born. lie lived in
Beaufort, leading the monotonous life of
his race, until the year OF 1851, when he
went to Charleston and worked at the rig
gers trade, and also led seafaring life in
sailing along and about the coast OF South
Carolina and Florida. 1t was here that he
acquired that knowledge Of the bars aud
harbors Of the seacoast which he afterward
used to such signal advantage to the Union
cause. For two years he was stevedore
In Charleston, and In July, 1861, went on
board the steamer Planter, then confed-
crate transport plying between the city and
Fort Sumter and other points in Charleston
harbor. This craft was also the special dis
patch boat of Gen. Ripley. After being on
this vessel about two months he was made
wheelsman. (At that time It was not In ac-
cordance with coastwise, nautical etiquette
to call a colored man a pilot.) In this
situation he continued until the 18th Of
May, 1869.
the Planter all had gone ashore up into the
city the previous night, where they slept,
leaving on board crew Of eight men, all
colored, among whom was Gen. Smalls,
A consultation was held and II was re-
solved by these eight men, Gen. Smalls at
their head, to seize the boat and carry IL
out to the United States fleet outside the
harbor. The design was hazardous
in the extreme. Thelittle boat would have
TO pass beneath the guns OF the batteries.
Failure and detection would have been GER
tain death. Fearful was the venture, but IL
was made. The daring resolution had been
formed, and under command OF Robert
Smalls, the wheelsman, steam was put on,
and with her valuable cargo Of guns and
ammunition, intended for Fort Ripley,a new
fertilization just constructed In the harbor,
about 2 o'clock In the morning, the Planter
silently moved off from her dock, steamed
upto North Atlantic wharf, where the wife
and two children Of Robert Smalls, and the
wife and children Of another Of the crew
were waiting to embark. Noiselessly the
vessel approached the wharf, and In silence
and In haste received the waiting women
and children on board, and then started
down the river out to sea. The regular
signal was given as Fort johnson was
passed and was answered, and so at Fort
Sumter. AS soon then as the boat was out
of range of the guns Of these grim guardi-
ans Of the city, the flag OF truce was raised
and out for the ocean she steamed.
In the misty morning frigate was de-
scribed off the bar. The Planter approached
her. In the mist the white flag was not
seen, and, to the terror and surprise Of the
Planters crew, the strange ship hove round
and presented her broadside and opened
her ports. The command had already been
given, "Ready,n and the captain was about
to speak the "Fire,n when one Of the Off
GERS ON the quarter deck discerned the flag
of truce. The vessels were now within
hailing distance, and the captain of the
Union ship asked, "What boat that was,
and what was wanted" The reply was .
.a.t,, a,,1 he. Dlay,t MI
The captain ordered her TO come alongside,
but his order was not heard by Smalls and
his men, who proceeded TO 90 around the
stern Of the ship, when they were brought
to stand-still by the captains laundering
tones as he called out, "Stop, or will blow
you out Of the water" The Planter then
came alongside, the movement Of her was
explained, and an officer named Watson
and four men We're, put on board. The
strange ship proved TO be the sailing frigate
Onward and the officer Capt Nichols.
Smalls was transferred to the gunboat
Augusta, the flag ship of the bar, under the
command Of Capt Parrot, whence he after
ward proceeded to Port Royal to Commo-
dore Dupont, then In command of the
southern squadron, where the Planter was
received, and Robert Smalls was
entered upon the navy list as
q pilot. The Planter was put under
command Of an officer from the ship Wa
bach, named Phoenix.
II was found that although the services
OF Gen. Smalls would be invaluable as n
pilot; yet he could not receive payas such,
there being some regulation In the service
requiring these officers to have been gradu-
ates Of some naval school. This difficulty
was easily obviated, however, Mr., Smalls
being commissioned. He received COM
mission as second lieutenant of COM
papy b, LIST South Carolina volun-
npdar md Of R,tfuc
ton, which was afterward called the SD
regiment United States colored troops, and
which was then being formed. He was
then detailed to act as pilot. Gen. Smalls
was coon afterward ordered to Ellsto to
join the gunboat Crusader, Capt. Ryan.
He then proceeded In the Planter, In com.
pany with the Crusader. to simmons
Bluff, on Wadmadlaw sound, where sharp
battle was fought between these boats and
a confederate light battery and some in
fantry. The confederates were driven out
of their works, and scampered away from
the shells that fell thick and hot around
and after them. The troops on the Planter
landed and captured all the tents and pro-
visions OF the enemy. This occurred some.
time In June, 1862.
Gen. Smalls continued to act as pilot on
board the Planter and the Crusader, and us
blockading pilot between Charleston and
Beaufort. He made repeated trips up and
along the rivers near the coast, pointing
out and removing the torpedoes which he
himself had assisted In sinking and putting
IN position. During these trips he was
present In several scrimmages aud battles
at Adams's Run on the Dawho river, where
the Planter was holly and severely fired
upon, also at Rockville, Johns Island, and
other places. Afterward he was ordered
back TO Port Royal, whence he piloted the
fleet up Broad river to Pocotaligo, where
very severe battle ensued, Gen. Smalls
was the pilot on the monitor Keokuk, Capt.
Ryan, In the memorable attack on Fort
sumter, on the afternoon ofthe 18th OF April,
1868. In this attack the Keokuk was struck
ninety.siX times, nineteen passing through
her. She retired from the engagement only
TO sink on the next morning near Light
House Inlet. Gen. Smalls left her Just
before she went down, and was taken on
board OF the lronsides The next day the
fleet returned TO Hilton Head.
When Gen. Gilmore took command Smalls
became pilot In the quartermaster's depart
ment In the expedition on Morris island
He was then stationed as pilot OF the Stono
where he remained until the United States
troops took possession of the south end of
Morris island, then he was put in charge of
Light House inlet as pilot
Upon one occasion while the Planter,
then under command Of Capt. Nickerson,
was sailing through Folly island creek the
confederate batteries opened a very hot fire
upon her. Capt. Nickerson became demon
allied and left the pilot house and secured
himself In the coal bunker. Smalls was on
the deck, and finding out the captain had
deserted his post entered the pilot house,
took command of the boat, and carried her
safely out OF the reach OF the guns. For