Battle of Fort Sumter
He was made pilot of the ironclad , again under captain Rhind, and took part in the attack on Fort Sumter on April 7, 1863, which was a preamble to the Second Battle of Fort Sumter later that fall. The "Keokuk" took 96 hits and retired for the night, sinking the next morning. Smalls and much of the crew moved to the "Ironside" and the fleet returned to Hilton Head.