3 years ago
Ep.40 – The Slave Pirate Who Became a Congressman
The true story of Robert Smalls, a SC slave who stole a Confederate ship and earned his family's freedom
Episode Notes
One of the most thrilling and fascinating stories of the Civil War and its aftermath. During the war, Robert Smalls escaped from slavery by stealing a Confederate ship, piloting it through Confederate-controlled waters to freedom, then personally helped convince Abraham Lincoln to accept African-Americans into the Army and Navy. But the story doesn’t end there. After a successful career in business, he entered politics and served three terms in the House Of Representatives.