Be free or die : the amazing story of Robert Smalls' escape from slavery to Union hero / Cate Lineberry.
By: Lineberry, Cate [author.].
Material type: TextPublisher: New York, NY : St. Martin's Press, [2017]Edition: First edition.Description: xiii, 272 pages,16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 22 cm.Content type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 9781250101860; 1250101867.Subject(s): Smalls, Robert, 1839-1915 | Smalls, Robert, 1839-1915 | Planter (Steamship) | United States. Congress. House -- Biography | Planter (Steamship) | United States. Congress. House | United States. Congress. House -- Biography | American Civil War (1861-1865) | 1861-1865 | African Americans -- Biography | Ship captains -- United States -- Biography | African American legislators -- Biography | Fugitive slaves -- South Carolina -- Beaufort -- Biography | African American legislators | African Americans | Fugitive slaves | Military participation -- African American | Ship captains | Military participation -- African American | African American legislators -- Biography | African Americans -- Biography | Fugitive slaves -- South Carolina -- Beaufort -- Biography | Ship captains -- United States -- Biography | BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Historical | HISTORY / African American | HISTORY / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877) | HISTORY / United States / State & Local / South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) | United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, African American | Beaufort (S.C.) -- Biography | South Carolina -- Beaufort | United States | Beaufort (S.C) -- Biography | United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, African AmericanGenre/Form: Biographies. | Biographies. | Biography. | History.Item type | Current library | Collection | Shelving location | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book | Voorhees | Biography | Adult | B Sma (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | 05000009239315 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
***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 forall. 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.
"June 2017"--Title page verso.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 237-263) and index.
Prologue -- The escape -- South Carolina's son -- In the service of the Confederacy -- Union hero -- Our country calls -- North and south -- The Keokuk -- Captain Smalls -- The City of Brotherly Love -- Triumph and tragedy -- Retaliation and reward -- Epilogue.
"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. 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."--Dust jacket.
Table of contents provided by Syndetics
- Map of Charleston Harbor, 1862 (p. x)
- Key Participants (p. xi)
- Prologue (p. 1)
- 1 The Escape (p. 4)
- 2 South Carolina's Son (p. 29)
- 3 In the Service of the Confederacy (p. 49)
- 4 Union Hero (p. 72)
- 5 Our Country Calls (p. 92)
- 6 North and South (p. 116)
- 7 The Keokuk (p. 134)
- 8 Captain Smalls (p. 152)
- 9 The City of Brotherly Love (p. 170)
- 10 Triumph and Tragedy (p. 190)
- 11 Retaliation and Reward (p. 206)
- Epilogue (p. 225)
- Acknowledgments (p. 233)
- Notes (p. 237)
- Index (p. 265)