Be free or die : the amazing story of Robert Smalls' escape from slavery to Union hero
(Book)

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Published
New York, NY : St. Martin's Press, 2017.
Format
Book
Edition
First edition.
ISBN
9781250101860, 1250101867
Status

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Copies

LocationCall NumberStatus
Amherst Jones Library - Lower Level973.8092 SMALLS (Lineberry)Available
Athol Public Library - Adult973.809 LIAvailable
Ayer Library - Adult Nonfiction973.809 LINAvailable
Bolton Public Library - Nonfiction973.8092 LINAvailable
Chicopee Main Library - Nonfiction (Lower Level)BIO SMALLSAvailable
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More Details

Published
New York, NY : St. Martin's Press, 2017.
Edition
First edition.
Physical Desc
xiii, 272 pages. 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 22 cm
Language
English
ISBN
9781250101860, 1250101867

Notes

Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 237-263) and index.
Description
"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."--Jacket flap.

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