Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-01-14
VAR "REMINISCENCES.
THEFT OF THE PLANTER.
low CoIorod Hero stole Confederate
Vessel


Vessel.
1t was February Is. 1862. when the
confederate steamboat Planter, the spe-
cial dispatch boat of Gen. Ripley, was
captured by Robert Smalls, then a
young negro IS years of age. On the
previous day. May u. TIE Planter,
which had for two weeks been engaged
in removing guns from Coles island to
James island, returned to Charleston.
That night the officers went ashore to
sleep and left a crew of eight colored
men on board the Planter Robert
Smalls was virtually the pilot of the
boat, but was called wheelman, because
at that time no colored man could have
been made pilot
In the early part Of the night Smalls
concocted the scheme TO take the boat
and run her over to the Federal side.
/ She would have to pass beneath the
guns of the forts in the harbor, and the
danger of the undertaking can well be
imagined. Failure and detection would
have been certain death. But Smalls
proved himself to be possessed of rare
nerve and courage that hesitated at
nothing. Under his command wood
was brought aboard and the fires start
ed beneath the boats boilers
About two o'clock in the morning
the Planter silently moved from her
dock. She returned to the North At
lantic wharf, where SmalIs wife and
two children, together with four other
women and one child, and also three
men, were waiting to embark. These
were taken aboard, and at 1926 a m.
Smalls started with crew of nine men
two of the eight who were left on the
boat for the night having remained be-
hind-five women and three children,
on the perilous adventure. Passing
Fort johnson the Planters steam whis-
tie blew the usual salute and she pro-
ceeded down the bay.
Approaching Fort Sumter Smalls
stood in the pilot-house leaning out of
the windows with his arms folded
across his breast after the manner Of
Capt Ripley confederate commander
of the boat, and his head covered with
great straw hat which Capt Ripley
most always wore upon such occasions.
Passing Fort Sumter was the most dan
gerous part of the adventure.
Capt. Smalls becomes firm and deter
mined to this day in relating this expe-
rience. The breatheless suspense of
himself and little crew, while exposed
to the yawning portfolios, looking into
the muzzles of hell, can hardly be real
lied. But Smalls never fiinched He
pulled the cord with steady nerve and
the signal required to be given by all
steamers passing out was blown as
coolly as if Gen Ripley was on board
going out on tour of inspection Sum
ter signaled "all right" and the Plant
er headed toward Morris Island, then
occupied by Hatch's light artillery, and
passed beyond the range of Sumter's
guns before suspicion was aroused.
When at last it became obvious that
the Planter was going directly into the
federal feet, Sumter signaled Morris
Island to stopher But it was too late
The Planter ran up white flag, but
alF of the federal feet, not seeing it.
made away, except the ship Onward,
which was not a steamer. She opened
her ports and prepared for defense, but
saw the white flag of the Planter Just
in time.
Capt Nichols boarded the latter, and
Smalls turned his capture over to him.
Smalls was the recipient of much praise
from the government for his brave act,
and continued to act as pilot for differ
ent vessels along the coast He point
ed out and helped in removing torpe-
does which he had assisted in sinking,
and putting in position. During these
trips he was in several battles, and
distinguished himself for bravery He
was finally made captain of the Plant
er and acted as such until 1866, when
he was ordered to Baltimore and the
vessel put out of commission. 4
The Planter, May Is, 1862, was most
useful vessel to the enemy, and when
captured had on board the armament
for Fort Ripley, then being esta blished
Smalls never received but one thousand
five hundred dollars for his capture,
and after the war endeavored to secure
her full value, which in addition to her
cargo amounted to sixty or seventy
thousand dollars Later, also a bill
was offered in congress to place Smalls
on the retired list of the navy, but it