 | Our Heroes |  |
49
GENERAL SMALLS.
It was in Charleston Harbor,
Nigh thirty years ago,
That the gallant steamer Planter
With grace plied to and fro,
Ladened with ammunition
And food for Boys in Gray,
Within the forts, that for defence,
Surrounding Charleston lay.
Nigh thirty years ago,
That the gallant steamer Planter
With grace plied to and fro,
Ladened with ammunition
And food for Boys in Gray,
Within the forts, that for defence,
Surrounding Charleston lay.
There was among the sailors
A negro, good and true,
Who much preferred to Southern gray
A uniform of blue.
He worked within the wheel-house;
He knew the signal calls
And he resolved to run the lines—
His name was Robert Smalls.
A negro, good and true,
Who much preferred to Southern gray
A uniform of blue.
He worked within the wheel-house;
He knew the signal calls
And he resolved to run the lines—
His name was Robert Smalls.
Before the other sailors
He doth his plan unfold,
And all but two think liberty
Dearer than life or gold.
And so they make arrangements:
“No matter what befalls,
We'll make a run for freedom!”
Said the heroic Smalls.
He doth his plan unfold,
And all but two think liberty
Dearer than life or gold.
And so they make arrangements:
“No matter what befalls,
We'll make a run for freedom!”
Said the heroic Smalls.
50
The ship lies at its moorings
Near the “City by the Sea;”
The officers to spend the night
And with companions be,
Have left the ship well ladened
With guns and cannon balls,
Four sailors true, the engineer
And pilot, Robert Smalls.
Near the “City by the Sea;”
The officers to spend the night
And with companions be,
Have left the ship well ladened
With guns and cannon balls,
Four sailors true, the engineer
And pilot, Robert Smalls.
The night was dark and lonely,
The hour was three o'clock;
When quietly the Planter
Was steamed up to the dock.
Aboard their wives and children
In haste the leader calls;
It is an hour with danger fraught
For hero, Robert Smalls!
The hour was three o'clock;
When quietly the Planter
Was steamed up to the dock.
Aboard their wives and children
In haste the leader calls;
It is an hour with danger fraught
For hero, Robert Smalls!
Now, out upon the Harbor
He steers with steady hand;
The shores look dark, forbidding,
As he gazes to the land.
They reach the point, Fort Sumter,
Attention! signal calls;
Promptly he blows the whistle
'Tis all right! Pilot Smalls.
He steers with steady hand;
The shores look dark, forbidding,
As he gazes to the land.
They reach the point, Fort Sumter,
Attention! signal calls;
Promptly he blows the whistle
'Tis all right! Pilot Smalls.
51
He steams past Morris Island,
The signal answers back;
But Sumter signals “Something wrong!
Arrest her in her track!”
The guns from Morris Island,
With ready cannon balls,
Send forth a shower of iron hail
At Pilot Robert Smalls.
The signal answers back;
But Sumter signals “Something wrong!
Arrest her in her track!”
The guns from Morris Island,
With ready cannon balls,
Send forth a shower of iron hail
At Pilot Robert Smalls.
But he is out of danger!
'Tis an heroic feat!
With all his power he urges
Out to the Union fleet!
But they mistake his signal—
A storm of heavy balls
Are ready now to deal out death!
To gallant Robert Smalls!
'Tis an heroic feat!
With all his power he urges
Out to the Union fleet!
But they mistake his signal—
A storm of heavy balls
Are ready now to deal out death!
To gallant Robert Smalls!
Oh, joy! they see his signal,
And not a whit too soon!
To save a tragedy that night
Under the rising moon!
But 'twas a happy moment
As e'er to mortal falls!
When the Union fleet received that ship
From hero, Robert Smalls!
And not a whit too soon!
To save a tragedy that night
Under the rising moon!
But 'twas a happy moment
As e'er to mortal falls!
When the Union fleet received that ship
From hero, Robert Smalls!
52
They've reached the Port of Freedom.
This gallant little band!
They sought the ground enchanted—
To them earth's promised land!
For they had felt for many years,
Grim slavery's crushing power!
It is a time supreme and blest—
It is a triumph hour!
This gallant little band!
They sought the ground enchanted—
To them earth's promised land!
For they had felt for many years,
Grim slavery's crushing power!
It is a time supreme and blest—
It is a triumph hour!
Detailed blockading pilot
He served the cause with pluck!
A guide to the Crusader,
The Stono,—Keokuk.
He made repeated trips along
The river, near the shore,
Removing the torpedoes thence
Which he had sunk before.
He served the cause with pluck!
A guide to the Crusader,
The Stono,—Keokuk.
He made repeated trips along
The river, near the shore,
Removing the torpedoes thence
Which he had sunk before.
Sailing through Folly Island creek,
Under Confederate gun,
The Planter then was in command
Of Captain Nickerson,—
Commander was demoralized
As the leaden shower falls,
Fearless he takes the Captain's place—
Promoted! Captain Smalls!
Under Confederate gun,
The Planter then was in command
Of Captain Nickerson,—
Commander was demoralized
As the leaden shower falls,
Fearless he takes the Captain's place—
Promoted! Captain Smalls!
53
He served the Union 'till the end
Of the great civil strife;
Then, as a leader of his race,
He entered public life.
With honor served his native State
As Representative.
His work within the Senate will
For generations live!
Of the great civil strife;
Then, as a leader of his race,
He entered public life.
With honor served his native State
As Representative.
His work within the Senate will
For generations live!
And in the State militia
He filled an honored place,
First Colonel, then a Brigadier,
He served with skill and grace;
Then Major-General of the troops—
This title to him falls.
These places with distinction
Are filled by General Smalls.
He filled an honored place,
First Colonel, then a Brigadier,
He served with skill and grace;
Then Major-General of the troops—
This title to him falls.
These places with distinction
Are filled by General Smalls.
At National Convention,
In eighteen-seventy-two
He votes for Grant and Wilson,
Those noble men, and true!
In seventy-six and eighty
He's called upon again,
To stand by Hayes and Wheeler;
For Logan and for Blaine.
In eighteen-seventy-two
He votes for Grant and Wilson,
Those noble men, and true!
In seventy-six and eighty
He's called upon again,
To stand by Hayes and Wheeler;
For Logan and for Blaine.
54
And then he served in Congress,
With faithfulness, six years:
A sturdy man, of common-sense,
Consistent, without fears!
We feel in him peculiar pride,
As his record to us falls;
For he has acted well his part—
Honest Congressman Smalls.
With faithfulness, six years:
A sturdy man, of common-sense,
Consistent, without fears!
We feel in him peculiar pride,
As his record to us falls;
For he has acted well his part—
Honest Congressman Smalls.
He failed of re-election
But not from failing vote;
Because the honest (?) Democrats
Counted our hero out.
But he is not defeated—
To him our ruler calls!
The message: You're appointed
Collector, Robert Smalls.
But not from failing vote;
Because the honest (?) Democrats
Counted our hero out.
But he is not defeated—
To him our ruler calls!
The message: You're appointed
Collector, Robert Smalls.
In canvassing for General Smalls
A good Republican
Said—“I believe in all the world
Smalls is the greatest man!”
“Who's greater?” “Why, the Lord, of course,
His match was never met!”
“Ah!” he replied, triumphantly;
“Smalls is a young man yet!”
A good Republican
Said—“I believe in all the world
Smalls is the greatest man!”
“Who's greater?” “Why, the Lord, of course,
His match was never met!”
“Ah!” he replied, triumphantly;
“Smalls is a young man yet!”
55
Postscript
He stood before the altar,
And, standing by his side,
A noble woman, good and true,
A loving, trusting bride.
He trembled when he said “I will;”
And perspiration falls,—
This man of war, and Congress,
Our hero, General Smalls.
And, standing by his side,
A noble woman, good and true,
A loving, trusting bride.
He trembled when he said “I will;”
And perspiration falls,—
This man of war, and Congress,
Our hero, General Smalls.
“I knew the General, 'fore the war
For fifteen years or more;
I'm sure that he was never known
To tremble so before!”
Well, many a man can calmly face
Musket and cannon balls,
Who fears to face a lady fair,—
No wonder! General Smalls!
For fifteen years or more;
I'm sure that he was never known
To tremble so before!”
Well, many a man can calmly face
Musket and cannon balls,
Who fears to face a lady fair,—
No wonder! General Smalls!
They gather in his lovely home,
At Beaufort's ocean side,
His friends and guests, to wish him joy,
And see his winning bride.
We wish thee all the blessing
That mortal lot befalls,
Prosperity, and length of days—
General, and Mrs. Smalls!
At Beaufort's ocean side,
His friends and guests, to wish him joy,
And see his winning bride.
We wish thee all the blessing
That mortal lot befalls,
Prosperity, and length of days—
General, and Mrs. Smalls!
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