Hampton Roads Peace Conference

[atlantis]

Was it a mistake for the CSA to request it or a missed opportunity by USA to end the bloodshed and slavery. Would the outcome have been different if the request for a conference had been made say August or December 1862.

 

[Lubliner]

I find no mistake by the CSA in sending a peace proposal at any time, and believe the Lincoln, Sherman, Grant exchange to be correct.
Lubliner.

 

[Carronade]

The two sides' fundamental demands - Confederate independence, preservation of the Union - were completely incompatible. Yes/no, black/white, 100/0, however you want to describe it, there's no middle ground. The CSA is either independent, or it's not.

 

[atlantis]

I rate it a mistake for this reason the conference goal was not attainable in 1865.

 

[OpnCoronet]

A useless gesture is not necessarily a mistakeif it gains its purpose. In this case, Jefferson Davis, had no real expectations of peace, but, he accepted making the gesture in order to discredit and silence their opposition of his V.P. Alexander Stepens and other southern opponents to his administration.

To the extent that it silenced Stephens the gesture was more or less successful, but, as noted by others, it made little differnce in the Grand scheme of the war itself.

 

[Pollaco]

Its astonishing how many people don't know this event even took place. I was glad to see it portrayed in the movie "Lincoln".