Saturday, August 2, 2008

Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story

Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Duane Smith
Born and raised a slave in coastal South Carolina, Smalls worked on the docks, then learned shipbuilding and piloting. In an amazing feat of daring in 1862, he stole a Confederate ship by impersonating the captain, sent a rowboat to pick up waiting family members, sailed past five Confederate forts, and turned the ship over to Union troops blockading the area. Smalls became the first African-American captain of a United States vessel; he later served in the South Carolina legislature and the United States Congress.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

...pulse-pounding excitement...A triumph.