---
title: Hon. Robert Smalls - Civil War hero, statesman
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-robert-smalls-civil-war-hero-statesman-1943/
description: A large portrait of Robert Smalls is surrounded by drawings of a ship leaving a harbour, a flag-raising at a naval camp and a speaker at a lectern.
section: Collection
---

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3. Hon. Robert Smalls - Civil War hero, statesman

[![Hon. Robert Smalls - Civil War hero, statesman, 1943 US cartoon: A large portrait of Robert Smalls is surrounded by drawings](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-robert-smalls-civil-war-hero-statesman-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-robert-smalls-civil-war-hero-statesman-1943.jpg)

# Hon. Robert Smalls - Civil War hero, statesman

A large portrait of Robert Smalls is surrounded by drawings of a ship leaving a harbour, a flag-raising at a naval camp and a speaker at a lectern, each with a caption. The tell is transfer: Civil War service and congressional office are used as exemplars for wartime Black participation.

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/) [Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
Hon.
ROBERT
SMALLS
CIVIL WAR HERO,
STATESMAN

A PILOT ON THE CONFEDERATE TRANSPORT
"PLANTER", HE RAN THE SHIP
OUT OF CHARLESTON HARBOR
ON MAY 13th, 1862, AND
DELIVERED HER TO THE
UNION SQUADRON.
FOR THIS GALLANT
ACTION, HE WAS
APPOINTED A PILOT
IN THE NAVY,
AND GIVEN
COMMAND OF THE
"PLANTER".

SERVED FIVE TERMS
AS A MEMBER OF
THE CONGRESS
OF THE UNITED STATES.

CAMP ROBERT SMALLS,
U.S. NAVAL TRAINING
STATION, NAMED IN HONOR OF
THIS UNIQUE FIGURE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

Alston
for OWI
```

[← Robert Lee Vann - Lawyer, Editor, Crusader](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-robert-lee-vann-lawyer-editor-crusader-1943/) [A Second Emancipation Proclamation!! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-second-emancipation-proclamation-1943/)

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