Be free or die: the amazing story of Robert Smalls' escape from slavery to Union hero
***Finalist for the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize***
Henry Louis Gates, Jr: "A stunning tale of a little-known figure in history."
Candice Millard: "Be Free or Die makes you want to stand up and cheer."
The astonishing true story of Robert Smalls' amazing journey from slave to Union hero and ultimately United States Congressman.
It was a mild May morning in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1862, the second year of the Civil War, when a twenty-three-year-old slave named Robert Smalls did the unthinkable and boldly seized a Confederate steamer. With his wife and two young children hidden on board, Smalls and a small crew ran a gauntlet of heavily armed fortifications in Charleston Harbor and delivered the valuable vessel and the massive guns it carried to nearby Union forces. To be unsuccessful was a death sentence for all. Smalls' courageous and ingenious act freed him and his family from slavery and immediately made him a Union hero while simultaneously challenging much of the country's view of what African Americans were willing to do to gain their freedom.
After his escape, Smalls served in numerous naval campaigns off Charleston as a civilian boat pilot and eventually became the first black captain of an Army ship. In a particularly poignant moment Smalls even bought the home that he and his mother had once served in as house slaves.
Cate Lineberry's Be Free or Die is a compelling narrative that illuminates Robert Smalls' amazing journey from slave to Union hero and ultimately United States Congressman. This captivating tale of a valuable figure in American history gives fascinating insight into the country's first efforts to help newly freed slaves while also illustrating the many struggles and achievements of African Americans during the Civil War.
African American legislators -- Biography
African American Nonfiction
African Americans
African Americans -- Biography
Beaufort (S.C.) -- Biography
Biographies
Biography & Autobiography
Fugitive slaves
Fugitive slaves -- South Carolina -- Beaufort -- Biography
History
Nonfiction
Participation, African American
Planter (Steamship)
Ship captains
Ship captains -- United States -- Biography
Smalls, Robert
Smalls, Robert, -- 1839-1915
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, African American
United States. -- Congress. -- House -- Biography
9781250101877
9781977321480
Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | 632b8aa2-74a3-3971-ea2b-0e473a79d60f |
---|---|
Grouping Title | be free or die the amazing story of robert smalls escape from slavery to union hero |
Grouping Author | cate lineberry |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2023-06-04 15:14:40PM |
Last Indexed | 2023-06-04 15:25:55PM |
Solr Fields
hoopla digital
Pocket-Greenhaven
Southgate
Pocket-Greenhaven
Southgate
***Finalist for the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize***
Henry Louis Gates, Jr: "A stunning tale of a little-known figure in history."
Candice Millard: "Be Free or Die makes you want to stand up and cheer."
The astonishing true story of Robert Smalls' amazing journey from slave to Union hero and ultimately United States Congressman.
It was a mild May morning in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1862, the second year of the Civil War, when a twenty-three-year-old slave named Robert Smalls did the unthinkable and boldly seized a Confederate steamer. With his wife and two young children hidden on board, Smalls and a small crew ran a gauntlet of heavily armed fortifications in Charleston Harbor and delivered the valuable vessel and the massive guns it carried to nearby Union forces. To be unsuccessful was a death sentence for all. Smalls' courageous and ingenious act freed him and his family from slavery and immediately made him a Union hero while simultaneously challenging much of the country's view of what African Americans were willing to do to gain their freedom.
After his escape, Smalls served in numerous naval campaigns off Charleston as a civilian boat pilot and eventually became the first black captain of an Army ship. In a particularly poignant moment Smalls even bought the home that he and his mother had once served in as house slaves.
Cate Lineberry's Be Free or Die is a compelling narrative that illuminates Robert Smalls' amazing journey from slave to Union hero and ultimately United States Congressman. This captivating tale of a valuable figure in American history gives fascinating insight into the country's first efforts to help newly freed slaves while also illustrating the many struggles and achievements of African Americans during the Civil War.
eAudiobook
eBook
Books
eBook
9781250101877
9781977321480
Pocket-Greenhaven
Southgate
2018
St. Martin's Publishing Group
Tantor Media, Inc
African Americans -- Biography
Beaufort (S.C.) -- Biography
Biographies
Fugitive slaves -- South Carolina -- Beaufort -- Biography
Planter (Steamship)
Ship captains -- United States -- Biography
Smalls, Robert, -- 1839-1915
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, African American
United States. -- Congress. -- House -- Biography
Be free or die : the amazing story of Robert Smalls' escape from slavery to Union hero / Cate Lineberry
Be free or die : the amazing story of Robert Smalls' escape from slavery to Union hero [electronic resource] / Cate Lineberry
African American legislators
African Americans
Biography & Autobiography
Fugitive slaves
History
Nonfiction
Participation, African American
Ship captains
Smalls, Robert
Solr Details Tables
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