S.C. Forms Smalls Monument Commission

Commission to honor Civil War hero and legislator Robert Smalls with monument

Charleston, S.C. – A historic decision has been taken by the South Carolina General Assembly. Governor Henry McMaster is anticipated to sign into law on August 29, a bill that will foster the creation of an 11-member legislative commission. This landmark commission, known as the Robert Smalls Monument Commission, is tasked with erecting a monument in honor of Civil War hero and Reconstruction-era legislator, Robert Smalls, on the Statehouse grounds.

The inaugural meeting of the Robert Smalls Monument Commission is anticipated to take place on August 28. If the proposed statue of Robert Smalls is ultimately installed, it will hold the unique distinction of being the first monument dedicated to an individual Black persona at the state’s capitol complex. The formation of this commission comes on the heels of South Carolina observing its inaugural Robert Smalls Day on May 13, an event aimed at paying homage to the heroic efforts and significant contributions of Robert Smalls.

The Robert Smalls Monument Commission

The bill, calling for the formation of the 11-member commission, was introduced in the S.C House by Rep. Brandon Cox (R-Berkeley). The commission will be chaired by the director of the South Carolina Department of Administration or his designee. The proposal received unanimous approval in the General Assembly during the most recent legislative session.

Members of the Commission

Four tri-county legislators, including Cox, have been appointed to the bipartisan commission. Other members include S.C. Rep. Wendell Gilliard (D-Charleston) and House Speaker G. Murrell Smith Jr. (R-Sumter). Also serving on the commission will be S.C. Reps. Jermaine Johnson Sr. (D-Richland), Patrick Bonner Haddon (R-Greenville), and Sylleste H. Davis (R-Berkeley). Senators Gerald Malloy (D-Darlington), Shane Massey (R-Edgefield), Tom Davis (R-Beaufort), Chip Campsen III (R-Charleston), and Margie Bright Matthews (D-Colleton) complete the composition of this important commission.

Robert Smalls: A Hero Forged in the Fires of Civil War

Robert Smalls’ heroic act occurred on May 13, 1862. As an enslaved crewman, Smalls commandeered the Confederate steamship, the Planter, in Charleston and handed it over to the Union Navy. His brave actions, which also included saving other enslaved crewmen and their families, propelled him into the annals of history, politics, and business. His subsequent political career saw him serve in both houses of the S.C. General Assembly and five terms in the U.S. Congress.

Remembering Smalls’ Legacy

The commission is given the goal of raising funds for the monument and reporting a proposed design and site for it by January 15, 2025. Once completed, it will mark the second African American history memorial at the Statehouse grounds, the first being the African American History Monument, finalized in 2001.