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

"Juneteenth has been touted as a national day celebrating the end of slavery. Observances from coast to coast have turned this event into part of the national conversation about race, slavery, and how Americans understand, acknowledge, and explain what has been called the national 'original sin.' But, why Juneteenth? Where did this celebration--which promises to become a national holiday--come from? What is the origin story? What are the facts, and legends, around this important day in the nation's history? This is the first scholarly book to delve into the history behind Juneteenth. Using decades of research in archives around the nation, this book helps separate myth from reality and tells the story behind the celebration in a way that provides new understanding and appreciation for the event."--Dust jacket