The Portland daily press., 1896-04-21

(b1Om the washington FOSC.
How Robert Smalls, the well known
negro politician of Charl eston S. c.,
took possession of the Con federate steam
ship Planter in Charleston harbor during
the war and delivered her to the Federal
authorities forms the subject of one of
the most interesting war claims now be-
fore Congress. At that time Smalls re-
ceived part Of the prize money, but
the full amount to which he was en-
titled was never paid him, and there is
reported, which appropriates $40, 600 to
be paid over to him for the performance
of one Of the most daring feats of the re-
bellion. The case is not entirely new in
Congressional history, for. Mr.. Smalls
has not been idle all these years, and the
measure has been previously considered
by the committee and favorably recon-
mendsd. But comparatively few persons
know the history Of the case, which is
given In detail in one of the reports re-
GENTLY made to the House from the COM
mittee on war claims.
On May IS, 1862, the Confederate
steamship Planter, the special despatch
boat Of Gen. Ripley, the Confederate post
commander at Charleston, S. c., was
taken by Robert Smalls under the follow
ing circumstances from the wharf at
which she Was lying, carried safely out
of Charleston harbor, and delivered to
one of the vessels of the Federal fleet
blockading that port.
| On the day previous, May IL, the plant
or, which had for two weeks been en-
| gagged in removing guns from Coles Is
| land to James Island, returned to Charles
ton. That night all the officers went
| ashore and slept in the city, leaving on
board Grew Of eight men, all colored.
Among them was Robert Smalls, who
was virtually the pilot OF tho boat, al
| though he was only called wheeln,an,
because at that time no colored man In
| fact could have been made pilot. For
some time previous he had been watching
for an opportunity to carry into execu-
| tion q plan he had conceived to take the
Planter to the Federal feet. This, he
saw, was about as good a chance as he
| would ever havs to do SO, and therefore
| he determined not to lose 1t. Consulting
with the balance of the crew Smalls
| found that they were willing to cooper
ats with him, although two of them at
| forward concluded to remain behind.
| The design was hazardous in the ex-
| treme.
The boat would have to pass beneath
the guns of the forts in the harbor. Fail
ure and detection would have been GER
| tain death. Fearful was the venture, but
| it was made. The daring resolution had
| been formed, and under command of
| Robert Smalls wood WAS taken aboard,
steam was put on ad with her valuable
cargo of guns and ammunition, intended
| for Fort Ripley, new fertilization just
constructed in the harbor, about 2 o'clock
in the morning the Planter silently
| moved eff from her dock, steamed up to
| North Atlantic wharf, where Snalls's
wife and two children, together with
four other women and one other child,
and also three meu, were waiting to en-
bark. ii these were taken on board, and
then at 3.25.a NJ, May IS, the Planter
started on her perllous adven ture, carry
| ing nine men, five women and three
children. Passing Fort johnson, the
Planters whistle blew the usual salute
and she proceeded down the bay. APP
preaching Fort Sumter, Smalls stood in
the pilot house leaning out of the win
dow, with his arms folded across his
breast, after the manner of Capt. Relay,
the commander of the boat, and his head
covered with the huge straw hat which
| Capt. Relay wore on such occasions
| The signal required to be given by all
| steamers passing out was blown as cool
| ~ DIS IL O6u. Ihipldy WIS on bohTu, RO-
| ing out on a tour Of inspection. Sumter
| answered by signal, can right. and
| the Planter headed toward Morris Island,
| then occupied by Hatch's light artillery,
and passed beyond the range of Sumter's
| guns before anybody suspected anything
| was wrong. When at last the Planter
was obviously going toward the Federal
| fleet of the bar Sumter signalled toward
Morris Island to stop her. But it was
too late. AS the Planter approached the
| Federal fleet white flag WAS dis
played, but this was not at first dis
covered, and the Federal steamers, sup
posing the Confederate rams were COM
| ing to attack them, stood out to deep
water. But the ship Onward, Cant.
Nichols, which was not a steamer, re-
maineu, opened her ports, and was about
to fire into the Planter, when she noticed
the flag of truce. AS aoon as the vessels
came within hailing distance of each
other, the Planters errand was ex-
planned. Capt. Nichols then boarded
her, and Smalls delivered the Planter to
him. From the Planter Smalls was
transferred to the Augusta, the flagship
off the bar, under the command of Capt.
Parrott. by whom the Planter, with
Smalls and her crew, were sent to Port
Royal to Admiral Dupont, then in COM
mand of the Southern squadron.
Smalls continued to distinguish him-
self in number of naval engagements,
L.