James L. Smith was born a slave on a plantation in Northern Neck, Virginia. After a childhood accident left him permanently crippled, he was eventually hired out to learn shoe-making. While still a slave, Smith had converted to Christianity and conducted prayer meetings for the other slaves. After his escape, he settled in Springfield, Massachusetts, and eventually acquired his own shoe shop. In addition to his shoe- making business, Smith attended school at Wilbraham and was licensed to preach. He preached in a Methodist church for twenty years, and aided other churches as well. He married Emeline Minerva Platt in 1842, and they had three daughters and one son.

Smith's narrative details his own life and experiences in slavery, in business, and in the ministry. He also describes a visit he made to his former plantation home in South Carolina after the war, during which time he was reunited with his brother and sister. Much of this work is dedicated to describing the Civil War, particularly the performance and participation of African-American troops. Smith also treats the exodus of freedmen to the north during Reconstruction.

Monique Prince