Civil War Hero, Robert Smalls, to be Honored with First Statehouse Monument of an African American

Civil War Hero, Robert Smalls, to be Honored with First Statehouse Monument of an African American

The General Assembly of South Carolina has unanimously passed a bill to honor Civil War hero, Reconstruction leader and Congressman, Robert Smalls, with what will be the first Statehouse monument honoring a specific African American historical figure. This move aims to enrich the publicly presented story of South Carolina’s intricate past, and bring to light the noteworthy life of Mr. Smalls.

Smalls’ Notable Life

Smalls was born into slavery in Beaufort in 1839. In the early hours of May 13, 1862, Smalls, then serving as an enslaved pilot onboard a privately owned Confederate ship, the Planter, hatched a scheme that changed his life. He, along with other members of the enslaved crew, sailed the Planter from Charleston’s well-fortified harbor while the ship’s white crew members were on land. The ship was turned over to the U.S. Navy, marking the start of Smalls’ military career.

Endowed with the Planter reward money, Smalls bought the mansion of his former owner in Beaufort, in 1864, becoming a national figure. Following the Civil War, Smalls delved into politics, playing pivotal roles at various levels, including five terms in Congress before retiring in 1887.

The Statehouse Monument

The new monument aims to highlight the life of Smalls in recognition of his contributions to the state and nation. The monument project will be undertaken by the Robert Smalls Monument Commission and anticipated to be funded through several million dollars raised from private donors.

There are proposals to commission Ed Dwight, a former astronaut and Colorado artist known for his monumental sculptures, for the project. Dwight is also famed for designing the 2001 monument on the South Carolina Capitol grounds dedicated to black history, the first of its kind in the nation.

The Robert Smalls monument is planned to be unveiled by July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. The proposed monument symbolizes a growing recognition of the critical role of African Americans in shaping the history and culture of South Carolina.