06/05/2026
"When freedom come, I didn't know what dat was. I 'lect Uncle Charley Burns what drive de buggy for Massa Charles, come runnin' out in de yard and holler, 'everybody free, everybody free,' and purty soon sojers comes and de captain reads a 'mation. And, law me, dat one time Massa Charley can't open he mouth, 'cause de captain tell him to shut up, dat he'd do de talkin'. Den de captain say, 'I come to tell you de slaves is free and you don't have to call nobody master no more."
This quote is from the WPA Narrative of Sarah Ford, who was interviewed in 1937 by the federal government. This is her recollection of what emancipation was like under General Order No. 3, which was issued June 19, 1865, the date that has become celebrated as Juneteenth.
Join us at the Levi Jordan Plantation State Historic Site on Saturday, June 13, from 10 am to 4 pm, to commemorate Juneteenth with living history reenactments and the reading of General Order No. 3. The reenactments will take place at 11 am and 2 pm, with the 2 pm reading followed by an interview with living history professional Allen Mack.
