“Backdrops, 1860–1862” establishes the backdrop for Camp Ford’s home region. It focuses on slavery, agriculture, and local perspectives of the Civil War. The foundation of any good community history rests with context. While the rest of the book focuses primarily on the prisoners at Camp Ford – before, during, and after their incarceration – Chapter 1 provides chronological and spatial perspective. This chapter considers the space and people within the county where Camp Ford would emerge, exploring Smith County, Texas, from 1860 until the end of 1862. It provides an environmental, agricultural, social, cultural, and political framework for the land and people.