The Remarkable Escape of Robert Smalls

Robert Smalls, born into slavery in Beaufort, SC, was influenced by the Gullah culture. His father was likely his enslaver, Henry McKee. Smalls worked in Charleston, developing nautical skills. He married Hannah Jones and faced the harsh reality of potential family separation. Unable to buy their freedom, Smalls planned an escape during the Civil War. As a wheelman on the CSS Planter, he devised a plan to reach the Union blockade, aiming for freedom.

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