Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-05-21

BMALLs STOOD IN THE PILOT HOUSE.
Dor, at the risk of his life. The conf
mittee on war claims has made favor
able report on the bill, and the report
gives the history of the heroism OF
Smalls.
On May 10. 1862, the confederate
steamboat Planter" the special dis
patch boat of Gen. Ripley, the confcd-
crate post commander at Charleston,
S. c., was taken by Robert Smalls under
the following circumstances from the
wharf at which she was lying, carried
safely out of Charleston harbor, and de-
livered to one of the vessels of the fed
eral fleet then blockading the port.
On the day previous, May IL, the
Planter which had for two weeks been
engaged in removing guns from Coles
island to James island, returned to
Charleston. That night all of the Off
GERS went ashore and slept in the city,
leaving on board crew of eight men,
all colored. Among them was Robert
Smails, who was virtually the pilot of
the boat, although he was only called
wheelman, because at that time no col
ored man could have, in fact, been
made a pilot. For some time previous
he had been watching for an oppor-
tunity to carry into execution plan he
had conceived to take the Planter to
the federal feet. This, he saw, was
pbout as good a chance as he would
ever have to do so, and therefore he
determined not to lose it. Consulting
with the balance Of the crew, Smalls
found that they were willing to CO.
operate with him, although two of
them afterward concluded 10 remain
behind. The design was hazardous in
the extreme.
The boat would have to pass beneath
the guns of the forts in the harbor.
Failure and detection would have been
certain death. Fearful was the VEN
ture, but it was made. The daring reso.
luton had been formed, and under
command of Robert Smalls wood was
taken aboard, steam was put on, and
with her valuable cargo of guns and
ammunition, intended for Fort Ripley,
new fertilization just constructed in
the harbor, about two o'clock in the
from tie dock, steamed up to North At
lantic wharf, where Smalls' wife and
two children, together with four other
women and one other child, and also
three men, were waiting TO embark.
All of these were taken on board, and
then, at 1925 a. m, May IS, the Planter
started Oh her perilous venture, carry
ing nine men, five women and three
| children. Passing Fort Johnson, the
| Planters steam whistle blew the usual
salute and she proceeded down the bay.
Approaching Fort Sumter, Smalls stood
In the pilot house leaning out of the
window, with his arms folded across his
breast, after the manner of Capt. Re-
! lay, the commander OF the boat, and
with his head covered with the huge
straw hat which Capt. Relay commonly
wore on such occasions.
The signal required to be given by all
steamers passing out was given us
coolly as if Gen. Ripley was on board,
going out on tour of inspection.
Sumter answered by signal; "All 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 sus-
pected anything was wrong. When at
last the Planter was obviously going
toward the federal fleet off the bar,
Sumter signaled toward Morris island
to stop her. But it was too late. AS
the Planter approached the federal
feet, a white flag was displayed, but
this was not at first discoy cred, and the
federal steamers, surprising that the
confederate rams were coming to at
tack them, stood out to deep water.
But the ship Onward, Capt. Nichols,
which was not 4 steamer, remained,
opened her ports, and was about to
fire into the Planter. when she noticed
the flag of truce. AS soon as the
vessels came within hailing distance of
each other, the Planters errand was
explained. Capt. Nichols then boarded
her, and Snialls delivered the Planter
10 him. From the Planter Sualls was
transferred TO the Augusta, the flag
ship off the bar, under the command of
Capt. PARROT, by whom the Planter,
with Smalls and her crew, were sent to
Port Royal to Rear Admiral Dupont,
then in command of the southern
squadron.
Smalls continued to distinguish him
self IL number of naval engagements,
and upon one occasion, in December, 1862.
while the Planter, then under Capt.
Nickerson, was sailing through Folly