Petitons and Freedom
Slaves from Southern states came to Washington, DC to seek refuge from their southern slave holders. These persons were awaiting a visit from Abraham Lincoln at Camp Barker, located a mile north of of the White House in 1862.
This is a short video created by the National Archives which provides information about the what we have been able to learn about the enslaved persons in Washington, DC.
This is an example of one of the 966 petitions filled for compensation following the District of Columbia Emancipation Act, which offered $300 per slave to legal slave owners in the District.
These petitions have been transcribed by Civil War Washington, the originals are held at the National Archives.