11. The Civil War Separate Mary From Many Members Of Her Family
Mary Todd Lincoln’s family supported slavery, and many members joined the Confederacy when the United States split. While Mary continued to stay in contact with several of her family members, Mary had to support the Union and not the Confederacy.
Many of Mary’s brothers fought in the Confederacy, and one of her younger sisters, Emilie, married a Confederate general. Fortunately, this did not end Mary’s relationship with her brothers or Emilie. In fact, Emilie continued to visit Mary at the White House. Still, the Civil War caused personal stress on Mary as she worried about her family in the Confederacy.