The author recounts her life from childhood to postwar, focusing on service during the Civil War with an early regiment of Black soldiers; she describes camp life as a regimental laundress, nurse, and teacher, daily routines, military expeditions, episodes such as Camp Saxton and the capture of Charleston, a castaway episode, and the regiment's mustering out. The narrative intersperses family history, reflections on postwar conditions, involvement with veterans' relief organizations, and practical details like rosters and battle listings, complemented by illustrations.