Upon turning his boat over to the Union Navy, he gave them valuable intelligence about the Rebels' condition in Charleston. He spent time as a civilian with the Navy, then the Army and was present at 17 major battles and engagements in the Civil War. He returned to Beaufort after the civil war, purchased his former owner's house and became a member of the SC Legislature and the US House of Representatives (a Black man in the South in the 1860's!!) The rest of the story (in the words of Paul Harvey) is simply fascinating.
Thank you, Chris! For anyone whose curiosity has been piqued, Robert Smalls went on to great things. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls
Upon turning his boat over to the Union Navy, he gave them valuable intelligence about the Rebels' condition in Charleston. He spent time as a civilian with the Navy, then the Army and was present at 17 major battles and engagements in the Civil War. He returned to Beaufort after the civil war, purchased his former owner's house and became a member of the SC Legislature and the US House of Representatives (a Black man in the South in the 1860's!!) The rest of the story (in the words of Paul Harvey) is simply fascinating.
Thank you, Joanne, for this additional information. Have a great weekend and thanks again for the suggestion!