General Order #3 (Issued by General Gordon Granger, "19th of June",
Issued by General Gordon Granger
"19th of June", 1865
Galveston, TX
General Order #3
"The people 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,
become that between employer and hired labor. The freed are advised to remain
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."