Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s American Heroes: Robert Smalls

Book excerpt: In 1862, a group of slaves stole one of the Confederacy¿s most crucial gunships from its wharf in Charleston and delivered it to the Federal Navy. This escape, masterminded by a 24-year-old black sailor named Robert Smalls, exploded the Confederate claim that Southern slaves did not crave freedom or have the ability to take action. A brilliant military strategist, Smalls was promoted to the rank of captain in the Federal Navy, where he served in many battles. His eloquent appeal to Lincoln convinced the Pres. to enlist 5,000 former slaves in the Union armed forces, shattering the color barrier that had kept black men out. His fame inspired the public support that encouraged Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Full-color illus. Reinforced binding.