Final answer:
Robert Smalls served as a ship pilot for the Union during the Civil War, commandeering a Confederate ship to aid the Union cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who contributed to the Civil War effort by serving as a ship pilot for the Union was Robert Smalls. Smalls was an African American who heroically commandeered a Confederate ship and delivered it to Union forces, which was a significant act of bravery and defiance.
His actions not only helped the Union but also advanced the cause for African American soldiers in the military and their fight for freedom and citizenship rights.