After Robert Smalls escaped to the Union army, how did he play an important role in the outcome of the war?
He traveled to Europe and convinced England and France to remain neutral in the war.
He became an influential voice in convincing Lincoln to recruit black soldiers for the war effort.
He returned to the Charleston area repeatedly to capture other Confederate ships for the Union navy.
He moved to Canada and encouraged other escaped slaves to do the same in case of Confederate victory.
After Robert Smalls escaped to the Union army, he played an important role in the outcome of the war in several ways. One of the most significant contributions he made was becoming an influential voice in convincing President Abraham Lincoln to recruit black soldiers for the Union army. Smalls argued that African Americans should be allowed to fight for their own freedom and that their inclusion would strengthen the Union cause. As a result, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which allowed for the enlistment of black soldiers.
Additionally, Smalls returned to the Charleston area repeatedly and played a crucial role in capturing Confederate ships for the Union navy. He became an expert pilot and used his knowledge of the local waters to guide Union vessels and participated in numerous successful missions. Smalls even captained the ship CSS Planter, which he had previously commandeered and escaped with.
Although there is no evidence to suggest that Smalls traveled to Europe or moved to Canada, his actions within the United States were instrumental in the Union's victory during the Civil War.