The slave who stole a Confederate warship and sailed to freedom

Robert Smalls’ Daring Confederate Ship Theft in Charleston

Robert Smalls pulled off one of the Civil War’s boldest escapes in 1862.

While white officers slept ashore, this 23-year-old enslaved pilot took control of the CSS Planter, a Confederate ship loaded with guns and ammo.

In the dark, he picked up his wife, kids, and other enslaved folks at set spots around Charleston Harbor.

Smalls then put on the captain’s hat, gave all the right signals at five checkpoints, and sailed past Fort Sumter at dawn.

Once safe, he swapped Confederate flags for his wife’s white sheet and handed the whole prize to the Union Navy. The Fort James Jackson museum in Georgia brings this daring escape to life with its Civil War exhibits.

Robert Smalls Got His Dream Job On A Confederate Warship

Robert Smalls started working as pilot of the CSS Planter in fall 1861.

He worked for Confederate Commander General Roswell Ripley, steering the 147-foot armed ship through Charleston’s tricky waters.

The Planter kept busy laying mines, moving troops, and delivering supplies around the harbor. From his spot at the wheel, Smalls could see Union ships just seven miles away.

By April 1862, he began secretly planning an escape with most of the enslaved crew. He left out one man he didn’t trust.

The Confederate officers made the plan possible by breaking rules, often sleeping in town with their families.

The Night Before Freedom Came With Perfect Timing

On May 12, 1862, the Planter came back to Charleston after two weeks setting up artillery on James Island. The ship carried four big guns as cargo.

That evening, Captain Relyea, pilot Smith, and engineer Pitcher went to shore as usual, leaving the enslaved crew aboard.

Smalls asked if crew families could visit the ship that night.

The captain agreed but set a time for them to leave. The families came aboard and learned about the escape plan for the first time.

Hannah Smalls felt shocked but quickly backed her husband’s plan.

The Escape Began In Darkness With A Captain’s Disguise

At 3:00 a.m. on May 13, Smalls put on Captain Relyea’s uniform and straw hat. He started the Planter’s boilers with help from seven other enslaved crewmen.

The ship moved away from Southern Wharf in total darkness to avoid attention. Smalls steered to North Atlantic Wharf where 16 family members and friends waited to board.

The escaping group grew to 17 people – 9 men, 5 women, and 3 children. Timing mattered greatly. They needed to reach Fort Sumter by first light when Smalls.

The Stolen Ship Carried Confederate Military Secrets

The Planter held valuable cargo that made it even better for the escape.

Four large artillery pieces from Coles Island sat on deck, including a powerful 32-pounder pivot gun and a 24-pounder howitzer. The hold contained 200 pounds of ammunition and 20 cords of firewood for Confederate forces.

Most valuable of all, the captain’s quarters held Confederate signal codebooks and detailed maps showing where mines lay throughout Charleston Harbor.

The ship also carried extra light guns for its regular transport duties.

The First Checkpoint Bought Into The Act

Around 4:15 a.m., the Planter neared Fort Johnson, the first of five Confederate checkpoints guarding the harbor.

Smalls copied Captain Relyea’s unique mannerisms, folding his arms and pacing the deck just like the white captain did.

He blew the correct steam whistle signals that Confederate guards expected to hear. The darkness helped hide his face from the sentries.

The guards waved the Planter through without questions. Luck helped too – the guard boat that normally patrolled this area was under repair that night.

Fort Sumter Almost Spotted The Deception

At 4:30 a.m., Smalls faced his biggest test – passing Fort Sumter, the most heavily armed fortress in the harbor.

Other crew members begged him to steer far away from the fort, but Smalls refused.

He knew that changing the normal route would raise alarms. He kept to the usual path and speed as Fort Sumter flashed challenge signals with lanterns.

The crew waited during the long pause that followed.

Smalls gave the correct hand signals in response. The fort finally signaled them to proceed, and the Planter continued toward the harbor entrance.

The Last Confederate Guns Fell Behind As Flags Changed

The Planter cleared all five Confederate harbor forts by using the right coded signals at each checkpoint.

Once they sailed beyond the range of the last Confederate gun at the harbor entrance, alarm bells rang out behind them.

Smalls told the crew to pull down the Confederate and South Carolina Palmetto flags right away. Hannah’s white bed sheet went up the flagpole as a surrender signal to the Union.

Instead of turning east toward Morris Island as Confederate ships normally did, the Planter headed straight for the Union ships.

Union Sailors Almost Fired On Their New Allies

The USS Onward spotted the approaching Confederate vessel and got ready to attack. Gunners aimed their weapons at the Planter.

At the last moment, a crewman noticed the white flag waving in the morning breeze. He shouted for the gunners to stop just as the cannon was being aimed.

The sunrise made the surrender flag clearer as the Planter got closer. Captain John Frederick Nickels came aboard as Smalls asked for an American flag to fly.

Smalls greeted the Union captain: “Good morning, sir! I’ve brought you some of the old United States guns, sir!”

The Navy Got Maps, Codes, And A Brave New Sailor

Smalls gave Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont military intelligence. The Confederate signal codes and detailed harbor maps showed exactly where mines lurked underwater.

Congress passed a special bill to reward Smalls and his crew for capturing the vessel and its cargo. Smalls got $1,500 as his share, worth about $47,245 today.

The Confederate government put a $4,000 bounty on Smalls’ head and court-martialed the three white officers who left the ship unguarded that night.

A Sinking Ironclad Tested Smalls’ Naval Skills

On April 7, 1863, Smalls piloted the ironclad USS Keokuk during a major Union attack on Fort Sumter.

He guided the vessel past other Union ships to within 600 yards of the fort’s massive walls. For 30 intense minutes, the Keokuk faced brutal Confederate fire.

Enemy cannons hit the ship 96 times, with many shots striking below the waterline and punching through the armor plating. Despite the severe damage, Smalls successfully steered the crippled vessel out of gun range.

The crew worked all night to keep the Keokuk afloat, but their efforts failed. The battered ironclad sank the next morning, though Smalls and the crew survived.

The Former Slave Became Captain When Courage Mattered Most

On December 1, 1863, the Planter came under attack near Secessionville. The white captain ordered surrender as Confederate shells fell around them.

Smalls refused to give up. He knew black crew members wouldn’t become prisoners of war but would face execution or re-enslavement.

When the frightened captain hid in the coal bunker, Smalls took command and piloted the ship to safety through heavy fire.

His bravery earned him promotion to captain of the USS Planter, making him the first African American to command a U.S. Navy vessel.

Smalls served as captain until 1866, earning $150 monthly and fighting in approximately 17 military actions during his remarkable naval career.

Visiting Fort James Jackson, Georgia

Fort Jackson at 1 Fort Jackson Road in Savannah connects you to Robert Smalls’ brave escape story through its Civil War artillery displays.

You’ll pay $15 for adults and $10 for kids ages 3-12 to explore the fort daily from 9am-4pm. Watch cannon firing demonstrations at 11am and 2pm featuring a massive 9-inch Dahlgren cannon.

Walk through the casemate rooms and powder magazines to see military artifacts from the era when Smalls navigated past Confederate fortifications.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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