History Daily: Robert Smalls Sails a Stolen Ship to Freedom

A bonus episode of History Daily, hosted by Lindsay Graham.

Robert Smalls, born in 1839, was an enslaved African American in South Carolina. In 1862, during the American Civil War, Smalls commandeered a Confederate transport ship, the CSS Planter, and sailed it to the Union blockade, delivering vital intelligence to the Union forces. Smalls went on to serve as a naval officer in the Union Navy, becoming a symbol of bravery and heroism. Post-war, he became a prominent figure in South Carolina politics, advocating for civil rights and equality, and he played a significant role in shaping Reconstruction policies. Robert Smalls' life exemplifies a remarkable journey from slavery to leadership and activism in the fight for freedom and civil rights.

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