In today’s episode, Christine MacMillan speaks with Sal Mercogliano, Chair of the Department of History, Criminal Justice, and Political Science at Campbell University.  He is also an adjunct professor at US Merchant Marine Academy and a former merchant mariner. Currently, he is the host of the YouTube What’s Going On With Shipping channel and a contributor to Sea History, Naval Institute Proceedings, and Captain. Sal shares about Robert Smalls and the Planter. By the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Robert Smalls was an enslaved crewmember on a ship called the Planter, operating in the Charleston Harbor. The ship's owners contracted the vessel out to the Confederate army as a transport ship, and Smalls found himself as a pilot on board the ship.  Have a Listen & Subscribe The Women Offshore Podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and most podcast apps. Make sure to subscribe to whatever app you use, so that you don’t miss out on future episodes. What did you think of the show? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also reach out by sending us an email at [email protected].