State Rep. Wendell Gilliard Chosen for Robert Smalls Monument Commission

State Rep. Wendell Gilliard Selected for Robert Smalls Monument Commission

COLUMBIA, S.C. – In a significant step towards honoring distinguished war hero and politician Robert Smalls, State Rep. Wendell Gilliard (D-Charleston) has been chosen to be part of the commission that will oversee the construction of his monument at the Statehouse grounds. This landmark development was announced by Gilliard on Monday following his appointment by South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith (R-Sumter).

A Monument Commission Assembled

The Robert Smalls Monument Commission will have the critical task of curating the design of the monument, determining its location, and generating funds for its construction. Gilliard, along with other members of the commission, has expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to recognize the life and contributions of Robert Smalls the way he deserves. “We look forward to the challenge of designing and raising funds for the statue and choosing the best spot for it,” Gilliard said in a statement.

Legislative Support

The bill which created the commission unanimously passed the House and Senate before being signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster in May. Now, the 11-member team must submit their design and location proposal to the joint State House Committee for approval by January 15, 2025.

Robert Smalls: A Trailblazer Remembered

Born a slave in Beaufort, Smalls was sent to Charleston to work on the CSS Planter, a steamboat chartered by the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He gained recognition for stealing the ship on May 13, 1862, and surrendering it to Union soldiers. This act is widely regarded as a critical turn of events that favored the Union.

After the war, Smalls was elected to the state legislature and later served five terms in the United States House of Representatives. The planned monument is significant as Smalls will be the first individual Black South Carolinian to be recognized on the Statehouse grounds, a fact that Gilliard described as meaning “so very much” to him.