Beaufort in Beaufort County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Robert Smalls

Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 2008

1. Robert Smalls Marker

Inscription. Born a slave in 1839, Robert Smalls lived to serve as a Congressman of the United States. In 1862 he commandeered and delivered to Union forces the Confederate gunboat Planter, on which he was a crewman. His career as a freedman included service as a delegate to the 1868 and 1895 State Constitutional Conventions, election to the SC House and Senate and nine years in Congress. He died in 1915 and is buried here.

Erected 1980 by Beaufort County Council. (Marker Number 7-14.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics • Heroes • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.

Location. 32° 25.959′ N, 80° 40.34′ W. Marker is in Beaufort, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is at the intersection of Craven Street and Charles Street when traveling east on Craven Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 911 Craven Street, Beaufort SC 29902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tabernacle Baptist Church (here, next to this marker); Beaufort Female Benevolent Society (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beth Israel Synagogue (about 500 feet away); A City Transformed (about 500 feet

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away); Discovering the Reconstruction Era in Beaufort County, South Carolina (about 500 feet away); City Meat Market & Firehouse (about 500 feet away); Beaufort Arsenal (about 600 feet away); Dr. Henry Woodward, Surgeon 1646-1686 (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beaufort.

Regarding Robert Smalls. Smalls made his daring escape. He piloted the ship past the five Confederate forts which guarded the harbor, including Fort Sumter.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Tabernacle Baptist Church and Steamship Planter

Also see . . . Robert Smalls. In the fall of 1861, Smalls was made helmsman of the "Planter", an armed Confederate military transport. (Submitted on March 1, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Robert Smalls Memorial and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 22, 2009

2. Robert Smalls Memorial and Marker

Robert Smalls Marker, upgraded to present day Black on Silver image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, May 13, 2010

3. Robert Smalls Marker, upgraded to present day Black on Silver

Smalls Grave site at Tabernacle Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 2008

4. Smalls Grave site at Tabernacle Baptist Church

Robert Smalls image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Wikipedia

5. Robert Smalls

Robert Smalls Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 2008

6. Robert Smalls Memorial

Robert Smalls " My race needs no special defence, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be the equal of any people antwhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life." Robert Smalls. Nov. 1, 1895

ROBERT SMALLS Marker...32 years ago this day image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 21, 2008

7. ROBERT SMALLS Marker...32 years ago this day

Memorial To Robert Smalls
was commissioned by Beaufort County Council
Unveiled 2-21-76
Marion Talmage Ethredge, Artist

Close up of Robert Smalls Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 22, 2009

8. Close up of Robert Smalls Memorial

Steamer "Planter" image. Click for full size.

Naval Historical Center

9. Steamer "Planter"

U.S. Army Vessel <i>MG Robert Smalls</i> (LSV-8) with bow ramp extended image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, September 15, 2007

10. U.S. Army Vessel MG Robert Smalls (LSV-8) with bow ramp extended

named in honor of Robert Smalls (Civil War hero, rights activist, Congressional Representative, and major general in the South Carolina Militia), the ship is the U.S. Army's largest water vessel, commissioned 15 September 2007 in Baltimore, MD.

<i>MG Robert Smalls</i> (stern view) in Batltimore's Inner Harbor image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, September 15, 2007

11. MG Robert Smalls (stern view) in Batltimore's Inner Harbor

<i>MG Robert Smalls</i> commissinoning ceremony, 15 Sep 2007 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, September 15, 2007

12. MG Robert Smalls commissinoning ceremony, 15 Sep 2007

Dignitaries on dais include Congressmen Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and James Clyburn (D-SC, House Majority Whip) - left-center; and Kitt Alexander (long-time promoter of the Smalls commemoration) - 2nd from right.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,903 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on June 21, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on March 1, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on December 22, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3. submitted on May 13, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 1, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 8. submitted on December 22, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 9. submitted on March 1, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 10, 11, 12. submitted on June 21, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.