James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.
By John Greenleaf Whittier (18071892)
On January 1st, 1863, President Lincoln, in his capacity of Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the United States, declared as a military measure, in accordance with notice proclaimed Sept. 22nd, 1862, that within certain specified territory in armed rebellion, all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be free.