Unsung Heroes: The Lesser-Known Figures of the Juneteenth Story

Though the Emancipation Proclamation issued on January 1, 1863, declared freedom for "all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State," it didn't effectively end slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation exempted Union states, applying its declaration only to states that had seceded from the U.S. The proclamation also was contingent upon the Union's victory in the Civil War.

Juneteenth celebrates the actual emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. This is the oldest known celebration of the end of U.S. slavery. Juneteenth occurs on June 19, which marked a critical turning point for U.S. slavery. Though many people know the date, they don't necessarily know what happened or the names of the influential people who helped bring about that emancipation.

Major General Gordon Granger 

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger led the 13th Army Corps into Galveston, Texas. A native New Yorker, Granger had a long and successful military career. He graduated from West Point in 1845, was promoted to brigadier general on March 26, 1862, and became major general on September 17, 1862. Though he was a shrewd tactician, he was strict and impersonal and was not very popular with his men.

The 13th Army Corps consisted of over 2,000 Federal soldiers, finally providing the support necessary to enact the Emancipation Proclamation effectively. Upon reaching Galveston, Granger officially issued General Order Number 3, which read:

“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 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 quietly 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.”

Thus, slaves were finally declared free in the South, roughly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This set the stage for all future Juneteenth celebrations. Granger remained in Texas for about six weeks spreading the message of General Order Number 3. He counseled liberated slaves to remain with their former owners as employees and sign labor agreements until they could receive further aid from the Freedmen's Bureau, which hadn't yet reached Texas.

Granger was relieved of his command on August 6, 1865. He took command of the District of New Mexico on October 31, 1865, and his military career continued for a little over a decade before he died from a stroke on January 10, 1876.

Susie King Taylor 

Susie King Taylor was a brave, well-educated, and active African American who had many life-changing roles throughout the Civil War and beyond. Though she was born into slavery in 1848, she went to live with her free grandmother in 1855 where she attended two secret schools that taught her to read and write.

In 1862, at the age of 14, Susie became the first black teacher to educate African American students openly in the state of Georgia. She was living with her uncle on St. Simons Island at the time and began teaching other former slaves who sought refuge there.

Susie married Edward King, who served as an officer in the 33rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment. She also worked for the regiment, as a nurse. Susie wrote of the time, "I gave my service willingly for four years and three months without receiving a dollar. I was glad, however, to be allowed to go with the regiment, to care for the sick and afflicted comrades."

After the war, Susie and Edward settled in Savannah. There, she opened a school for African American children, continuing her lifelong dedication to service. Following her husband's death, she had to take work as a domestic servant, but she continued to serve with the Women's Relief Corps and later wrote a book about her Civil War experiences. At the time of the book's publication, she was the first and only African American woman to write about what she had experienced in the war.

Felix Haywood

Felix Haywood was born into slavery in San Antonio with his five siblings. He was working as a sheepherder and cowboy for his master, William Goodlow, when Granger proclaimed General Order Number 3 in 1865. Haywood is most famous for his 1937 interview in which he gave a firsthand account of the events surrounding Juneteenth.

Haywood said the slaves knew the end of the war had come when "Hallelujah broke out." He explained, "Every one was a-singn'. We was all walkin' on golden clouds. Hallelujah!" He added, "We all felt like heroes and nobody had made us that way but ourselves." As time went on, however, he said the former slaves realized that freedom hadn't provided everything they had hoped for. "We soon found out that freedom could make folks proud but it didn't make 'em rich."

Haywood died about five months after his lengthy interview, but his account of Juneteenth and the years that followed offers a poignant look at the realities of both slavery and freedom for African Americans.

Juneteenth's Untold Stories

As we remember the victories of Juneteenth, we should recognize and celebrate all those who played a role in this part of American history. Sharing the stories of overlooked figures can have a profound impact on our full understanding of these events. It's important to continue honoring and learning about the diverse experiences and contributions of African Americans in shaping U.S. history.