Kenner mission

The Kenner mission was a secret mission by The South to settle the American Civil War peacefully in late 1864 and early 1865 by promising to England and France an emancipation of the slaves if they would recognize the Confederacy as a country.

A wealthy slaveowner who also had a fortune in horses, Louisiana representative Duncan F. Kenner proposed this to Jefferson Davis in 1864, but he initially supported it. As the chances for a southern victory in the war dimmed, Davis sent for Kenner in late 1864 to give this a try. Kenner embarked in early 1865 for Europe with this mission. France was open to the idea but England was not, and General Robert E. Lee surrendered while Kenner was over there.