R. Smalls Grave

[Gettmore]

 

[bayouace]

Excellent photos. Smalls was a man who made things happen in his life.

 

[Mike Serpa]

His photo from the Library of Congress

 

[Drew]

Under 19th century Naval seizure laws, Smalls was entitled to half the value of the Confederate steamer he stole and ran into the Union Navy blockade line.

They did everything they could to screw him out the money and if I remember correctly, it took him years to get paid. Not even sure he ultimately got half the value of Planter. Maybe there's a scholar among us who can say exactly how long it took and how much he got.

So much for "Northern virtue."

 

[Lampasas Bill]

At least he was a free man, having escaped from the "virtuous Southern" institution of slavery.

 

[Drew]

At least he was a free man, having escaped from the "virtuous Southern" institution of slavery.

Yes, but screwed by Abraham Lincoln's War Department out of the money he was due that would likely have been gratefully paid to a white man with the same daring-do. You should be proud.

 

[Library Lady]

At least he was a free man, having escaped from the "virtuous Southern" institution of slavery.

Plus, for the years he was a US Representative (1875-1879 and 1881-1887) he was making $5000 a year which wasn't exactly chopped liver back then. Without the Lincoln government and subsequent Reconstruction, he would never have had that opportunity.

According to the American Battlefield Trust he was paid $1500 in prize money for the Planter on May 30, 1862, via a private bill in Congress. He'd turned the ship over to the Union on May 13, 1862. The Planter and cargo was valued at $9000 (which was probably low) with the captain (Smalls) and his crew of 7 receiving half of that value. As captain, Smalls got 1/3 of 1/2. The rules for prize money division are complex and a pain. Even Lord Nelson and Sir John Jervis, the 1st Earl St. Vincent took each other to court over who got paid what.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Yes, but screwed by Abraham Lincoln's War Department out of the money he was due that would likely have been gratefully paid to a white man with the same daring-do. You should be proud.

What I'm proud of is the Library Lady for setting things straight. And as far as pride in past events, I agree with George Santayana: "Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyality to their mistakes."