A Slave Girl's Story Being an Autobiography of Kate Drumgoold.

The memoir opens with a vivid recollection of a childhood spent on a Virginia plantation, where the narrator, still a girl, felt an uneasy mixture of affection from white neighbors and the looming shadow of slavery. She describes her mother’s sudden sale at the outbreak of the Civil War, the bewildering separation of her family, and the way faith became a constant companion as she searched the sky for signs of her mother’s fate. Through these early memories, the author conveys both the tenderness of small moments—picking wildflowers on a bright Sunday—and the harsh reality of a world where doors were often closed to people like her.

Beyond the personal grief, the narrative unfolds as a testimony to resilience, education, and hope among the newly freed Black community in post‑war New York. The writer reflects on the encouragement she received from churches and reformers, and on the collective desire to build schools, learn to read, and claim a proud identity. Her voice offers a compelling glimpse into the struggle for dignity and the belief that divine providence guides the path toward freedom.