Sailing to Freedom

by Jessica Gunderson

Published 10 August 2017
Like many slaves, Robert Smalls was forced to fight for the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. One night, Robert and his crew of fellow slaves aboard the ship, the Planter, decided to steal the ship and head for the safety - and freedom - of Union waters only seven miles away. Would they make it to freedom, or would they be captured and face certain death?