On December 1, 1863, Smalls was piloting Planter under command of Captain Nickerson of Cape Cod

while moving rations for several thousand Union troops from Folly Island to Morris Island.

Planter came under intense crossfire from a Confederate Secessionville battery,

a Union battery on Block Island and a Union ship, the Commodore Macdonough.

The fire, primarily from short rounds, was so fierce that Nickerson ordered the ship beached , went below and hid.

Smalls refused the order, assumed command of the ship and brought it to safety.

When the ship docked at Morris Island it was met by department commander

Major General Gillmore, who ordered Nickerson dismissed for cowardice and appointed Smalls captain in his place.

Smalls thus became the first black captain of a vessel in the service of the United States.