Under the Freedom Tree

The Contraband of War: A Story of Freedom and Triumph is a powerful and moving account of the little-known story of the first contraband camp of the Civil War.

This book tells the gripping tale of three escaped slaves who made their way from the Confederate line to a Union-held fort, seeking protection and freedom.

As word spread, thousands of runaway slaves poured into the fort, building the first African American community in the country.

The Contraband of War community was not just a temporary refuge, but a thriving community where former "chattel" spent their days working for the Union Army and their evenings learning letters and numbers from missionary teachers standing under a live oak.

The year 1863 brings the Emancipation Proclamation, read aloud under what the community calls the Freedom Tree.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, freedom, and the struggle for equality.