January 1, 1863---Emancipation Day has come! ; The Battle of Stones River: Day Two

JANUARY 1, 1863:             

  

The Battle of Stones River, Tennessee (The Battle of Murfreesboro; the Second Battle of Murfreesboro) (Day Two):           

No action took place on the field today, as both sides, in an improvised truce, attempted to aid their wounded and bury their dead in the stone-hard frozen earth. 

The “Final” Emancipation Proclamation becomes effective this day. 

 

Although the Emancipation Proclamation legally only has effect in areas in rebellion, many Unionist slaveholders and slaveholders in Union-controlled areas release their slaves, and local military commanders decide to enforce the Proclamation as they see fit. 

Perhaps 50,000 slaves are immediately freed this day, besides all Union Contrabands, who have technically been escaped slaves up to this point. The death knell of human bondage in America has sounded.

In Texas, Confederate units retake Galveston.