The Juneteenth order

The Juneteenth order

HANDOUT – A segment from the handwritten “Juneteenth” order issued by Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger telling people held in bondage in Texas that they were free.
This handwritten order, dated June 19, 1865, was located in a formal U.S. Army order book and is thought to be the first version of the famous proclamation. It was located Thursday June 18, 2020 at the National Archives headquarters building in Washington.