Juneteenth (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

Today is June 19 and is the 148th anniversary of June 19, 1865 when the Union forces entered Texas and told slaves that they were free. General Granger, the commanding Union officer issued five orders, among them General Order No. 3, which stated

Headquarters, District of Texas
Galveston, Texas, June 19, 1865

General Orders, No. 3

The people are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor. The Freedmen are advised to remain at their present homes, and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

By order of
Major-General Granger
F. W. Emery, Maj. & A.A.G.​

Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in 41 states of the United States.

Here's an article about it's origins in Galveston, Texas, http://deadconfederates.com/2013/06/19/juneteenth-history-and-tradition-3/

 

[lancer]

Interesting post and info, Brad. I must admit that I have never even heard of Juneteenth or anything about it. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

Al,

It was only a few months ago that I heard about it myself and until I saw the blog post on Civil War Emancipation this morning, I had no idea it was observed in many states. To me, the date that has always been the important one was January 1, 1863, the date of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, the Proclamation only emancipated about 25% of all slaves and it wasn't until the end of the war when Union troops came through the Southern states that emancipation of all slaves really took place.

Brad