Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

How Robert Smalls sailed to freedom during the Civil War

During the transatlantic slave trade, Charleston, South Carolina was one of the largest slave ports in the United States. But at the height of the Civil War, Charleston’s waterfront was the backdrop of one enslaved man’s daring escape. In part two of our series, “Hidden Histories,” we get the story of Robert Smalls, who stole a Confederate ship and sailed to freedom.

Support Provided By
Season
September 4, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
September 4, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
September 3, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
September 3, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
September 2, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
September 2, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
September 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
September 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 31, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
August 31, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 28, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
August 28, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
August 27, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
August 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
August 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
August 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 21, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
August 21, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
August 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
August 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator