Today in U.S. History: On Feb. 3, 1865, The Hampton Roads Conference was held aboard the steamboat River Queen in Hampton Roads, Virginia. It was a peace conference between the United States and the Confederate States, a get together to discuss terms to potentially end the horrific American Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William H. Seward, representing the Union, met with three commissioners from the Confederacy: Vice President Alexander H. Stephens, Senator Robert M. T. Hunter, and Assistant Secretary of War John A. Campbell.
The representatives discussed a possible alliance against France, the possible terms of surrender, the question of whether slavery might persist after the war, and the question of whether the South would be compensated for property lost through emancipation. The Confederate commissioners immediately returned to Richmond at the conclusion of the conference. Confederate President Jefferson Davis announced that the North would not compromise. Sadly, the Civil War would continue another two months.

Also: Rick Britton has a 5-session Senior Center class that commences March 7th: “The Genius of Thomas Jefferson.” It features his most famous accomplishment–authorship of the Declaration of Independence–plus many of lesser-known accomplishments. People do not have to be Senior Center members to participate. To register call the Senior Center Travel Office at (434) 974-6538.