Juneteenth: the story behind the celebration

Preface

Introduction

Slavery and Texas

Lincoln and the approaching war

Slavery and the army

Port Royal and the first general order

Butler and Louisiana

Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation

Into the heart of the Confederacy

The Hundred Days and Lincoln's final Emancipation Proclamation

Implementing emancipation

The beginning of the end

Sherman's march to the sea

The Hampton Roads Peace Conference

The end is in sight

The "new order of things"

Louisiana

Preparing the way

Texas

Gordon Granger

"Just like that, we were free"

Problems surrounding First Freedom

Spreading the word through Texas

Legacy of Juneteenth.