On september 22, 1862, president abraham lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation. his proclamation promised to free african americans still held in slavery on january 1, 1863. lincoln wrote “all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a state, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the united states, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” he went on to say that the union government and army would support this freedom. the army would stop returning escaped slaves to their masters. which groups of african americans did lincoln free? a. african americans enslaved in union states. b. african americans enslaved in u. s. territories. c. african americans enslaved in territory the union army had conquered. d. african americans enslaved in territory the union army had no control over.