Quote of the day by Gordon Granger for Juneteenth : Some quotes are remembered not because they were carefully crafted speeches, but because they marked a historic moment. Today's quote comes from Major General Gordon Granger and the proclamation he delivered in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Every year, Juneteenth commemorates a historic event that took place in Texas on June 19, 1865. On that day, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with approximately 2,000 Union troops and delivered General Order No. 3, informing enslaved Black residents that they were free, as per a Britannica report.
Juneteenth Quote of the Day: What Did Gordon Granger Say in Historic Juneteenth Proclamation
Gordon Granger said, " The people of Texas 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 rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer, " as per National Museum of African American History and Culture.
What Did General Order No. 3 Announce on June 19, 1865
The announcement came two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the American Civil War in 1863. While the proclamation freed more than 3 million enslaved people living in the Confederate states, more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas remained without freedom until the order was enforced in 1865, as per the Britannica report.
The order further advised freedmen to remain at their present homes and work for wages. It also stated that they would not be permitted to gather at military posts and would not be supported in idleness, as per the Britannica report.
Who Was Gordon Granger
Gordon Granger was a Union Army officer best known for serving as commander of the Department of Texas from June 19 to August 6, 1865. Born on November 6, 1821, in Wayne County, New York, he graduated from West Point in 1845 and fought in the Mexican War before spending years serving on the frontier, as per Texas State Historical Association.
During the Civil War, Granger rose through the ranks after seeing action at Wilson's Creek, New Madrid, Island No. 10, and Chickamauga. At Chickamauga in 1863, his counterattack helped prevent a major Union defeat.
Why Gordon Granger Is Remembered on Juneteenth
Granger is most closely associated with June 19, 1865, when he arrived in Galveston, Texas, after being assigned to command the Department of Texas by General Philip H. Sheridan. Upon his arrival, he officially declared that slavery was ended in Texas, prompting celebrations among freedmen. His proclamation later became the foundation of Juneteenth, the annual observance marking the end of slavery in Texas.
Gordon Granger's Role in the End of Slavery in Texas
During his brief command, Granger also declared Confederate laws void, ordered public property to be turned over to the United States Army, and advised freed Black Texans to remain on plantations and enter labor agreements while awaiting assistance from the Freedmen's Bureau, as per Texas State Historical Association.
After six weeks in Texas, Granger was relieved of his command on August 6, 1865. He later commanded the District of New Mexico from 1871 to 1876. He married Maria Letcher in 1869 and lived in Santa Fe until his death on January 10, 1876.
