It seems all of Richmond, Virginia is celebrating Independence Day in 1860, until we see the occupants of a slave wagon. A weak, sickly young African-American woman named Mary Jane Richards is being questioned by Slave Patrol Officer Pike.

As Mary Jane recovers, the Van Lew family prepares to transport runaway Robert Ford across the border to the safety of the North...nearly getting caught by Laurette when smuggling him out. For Elizabeth, this is their last Underground Railroad duty.

Grieving Tadpole, the Van Lew's ensure his death was not in vain. After his funeral, Mary Jane confides to Elizabeth and Eliza an idea for retribution against the Confederacy.

Mary Jane arrives at the Gray House and is warned about Lavinia. Union officers Captain Lounsbury and Major Revere, captured at Bull Run, get mustered into the P.O.W. lockup by Confederate General Winder as Erasmus Ross looks on.

In 1862, the Van Lews, upset over the Balls Bluff defeat, fret over how to get General McClellan to take them seriously. At the Confederate fundraiser, Mary Jane informs Eliza and Elizabeth of more messages sewn into her donated clothes.

Stokely and Lumpkin round up enemies, holding some hostage and beating and killing others. Clara is about to be beaten for a confession by Stokely when the Van Lews and President Davis arrive. Stokely is stopped and the hostages are released.

Mary Jane searches Davis' office to differentiate real intel from planted misinformation. Nearly caught, Mary Jane hurries to write notes for Jericho to deliver to their cohort.

Numb from trauma, Elizabeth returns from the conflict and is stopped by Stokely for questioning. She finds an ally in Hampton.