Though scholars have written much on emancipation and the U.S. Colored Troops, Smith's work frames the evolution of Lincoln's ideas within congressional actions, explaining how, when, and why the president seemed to be so halting in his progression to military emancipation. After tracing Lincoln's evolution from opposing to supporting emancipation as a necessary war measure and to championing the recruitment of black troops, Smith details the creation, mobilization, and diverse military service of the USCT.

John David Smith, the Charles H. Stone Distinguished Professor of American History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is the author, editor, or coeditor of twenty-four books, including Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and "The American Negro," Black Soldiers in Blue: African American Troops in the Civil War Era, and An Old Creed for the New South. Smith also edits nine book series.