"It was here, at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, that the Civil War began. Until then, the enslaved, who made up most of Charleston's population, had found little reason for hope. They were held in bondage, forced to labor long hours with no pay, provided inadequate food and shelter, and under threat of physical abuse or even death at the slightest provocation."
"By June 1861, the Confederates had pressed the Planter and its crew into service because [the steamer] could easily maneuver shallow intercoastal waterways, delivering supplies to bases along the coast. The Confederates employed three white men to oversee the Planter and its enslaved crew. These overseers regularly went into Charleston, leaving the crew unsupervised. Enjoying one of these moments free from scrutiny, the five-foot-five, stocky Smalls playfully picked up the captain's distinctive floppy hat and pranced around"
Charleston's motto "While I breathe, I hope" resonated with enslaved Blacks when the first shots of the Civil War exploded over Charleston Harbor at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861. Enslaved people, who comprised most of Charleston's population, endured forced labor, inadequate food and shelter, and constant threat of violence or death. The bombardment represented the first real prospect of collective freedom. Robert Smalls, an intelligent, determined young man, refused to wait for chance. By June 1861 Confederate forces had pressed the steamer Planter and its enslaved crew into service, overseen by three white men who often left the crew unsupervised, creating an opportunity Smalls seized.
Read at Big Think
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