the civil war well before the emancipation proclamation. generals in the south like david hunter actually issued their own emancipation proclamations in the territory they controlled. this panicked the white house and the lincoln administration. >> any news, father? >> no good news. general hunter has taken it upon himself to emancipate the contraband in port royal. >> is this really bad news mr. president? >> elizabeth is right. >> elizabeth keckley emerged as the favored seamstress of women of power. when mary todd lincoln came to town, she went to the most popular seamstress in washington. and elizabeth keckley became quite a confidante and established a contraband relief society. and mary todd lincoln became rather active in this organization.