TODAY IN VIRGINIA HISTORY: In this segment, historian Rick Britton talks with Les Sinclair about the Skirmish at Rio Hill, fought on February 29–leap day–in 1864. (It’s not an exact match to today’s date because 1864 was a leap year.) During the winter of 1863-64, a battalion of Confederate artillery–the Stuart Horse Artillery Battalion with 16 cannon, 200 men and about 400 horses–was encamped north of Charlottesville (at the approximate site of the Rio Hill Shopping Center). Rio Road was the main road leading north out of town in those days; by camping there the Southerners were protecting the approaches from the north. In late February of 1864, a Union cavalry raid was launched against the Confederate capital at Richmond. The Union high command needed a diversionary raid to divert Confederate attention, and Confederate cavalrymen, away from this main thrust, so an attack against Charlottesville was planned. Union Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer (the same of Little Big Horn fame) was chosen to lead the raid, featuring 1500 horsemen and 2 cannon, against our town.

ALSO: Rick Britton is hosting a history class at The Center (formerly the Senior Center) starting on March 12. Called “Albemarle’s Early Days,” it covers the period up to the Revolutionary War. Topics include “The Land & Its First People” – “The Founding of Big Albemarle” – “Traveling Albemarle” – “Enslavement & the Land” – “Agriculture in Early Albemarle” – “Jefferson’s Early Years,” and “Monticello I.” The speakers include Dr. Leni Sorensen (a slavery historian); award-winning historian Jayne D’Alessandro-Cox (author of Thomas Jefferson – From Boy to Man); Gardiner Hallock (Monticello’s director of restoration and collections); William & Mary’s Dr. Susan Kern (professor of the American South); and local author and award-winning historian Rick Britton. Held at The Center, located at 491 Hillsdale Drive, the class starts Tuesday, March 12, and runs for 5 more Tuesdays (4 to 5 p.m.): March 19, 26, and April 2, 9, and 16. Charge: The Center members – $80; Guests – $90. To sign up, call The Center Travel Office at (434) 974-6538 or go to www.thecentercville.org and press first “Travel,” then “Lectures.”