While the Lowcountry is famous for its moss-draped oaks and pirate lore, the “wildest” historical story—one that blends sheer audacity with a Hollywood-style escape—is the incredible journey of Robert Smalls.
The Legend of Robert Smalls
In the pre-dawn hours of May 13, 1862, Robert Smalls, an enslaved harbor pilot in Charleston, performed one of the most daring feats of the Civil War. While the officers of the Confederate transport ship CSS Planter were ashore, Smalls and a crew of eight other enslaved men took control of the vessel.
Smalls didn’t just steal the ship; he picked up his wife and children at a hidden dock and then navigated the heavily armed boat past five Confederate forts—including the formidable Fort Sumter. To avoid detection, Smalls donned the captain’s distinctive straw hat and mimicked his signals in the darkness. Once clear of the Confederate guns, he replaced the Rebel flag with a white bedsheet and surrendered the ship to the Union blockade. His bravery not only secured his family’s freedom but also provided the Union with critical intelligence and a heavily armed steamer.
Other Bizarre “Hidden” Histories
If you’re looking for something more supernatural or strange, the Lowcountry has no shortage of oddities:
The Mermaid Riot of 1867: During a period of torrential rain in Charleston, a rumor spread among the local population that a doctor named Dr. Trott had captured a mermaid. Many believed the storm was the ocean’s wrath at her captivity. A massive crowd gathered at his shop, demanding he release the “mermaid” to stop the rain.
The Mars Bluff Atomic Bomb: In 1958, a B-47 bomber accidentally dropped a 7,600-pound nuclear bomb on a family’s property in Mars Bluff. While the nuclear core didn’t detonate, the conventional explosives did, leveling a house and leaving a massive crater that you can still see today. Miraculously, the family survived.
The Haunted Crypt of Julia Legare: On Edisto Island, legend says Julia Legare was accidentally buried alive while in a coma. Years later, when the crypt was reopened, her remains were found at the door. To this day, the massive stone door to the mausoleum reportedly refuses to stay closed, no matter how many times it is locked or chained.
Each of these stories captures a different side of the Lowcountry—one part heroic, one part superstitious, and entirely unique to the marshy coast of South Carolina.
