HAMPTON ROADS, a channel through which the waters of the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth rivers of Virginia, U.S.A., pass (between Old Point Comfort to the north and Sewell's Point to the south) into Chesapeake bay. It is an important highway of commerce, especially for the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News, and is one of the chief rendezvous of the U.S. navy. The entrance from Chesapeake bay is defended by Ft. Monroe on Old Point Comfort and by Ft. Wood on a small island near the middle of the channel. At Portsmouth, a few miles up the Elizabeth river, is an important navy-yard. Hampton Roads is noted historically as the scene (March 9, 1862) of the first battle between iron-clad vessels (see MONITOR AND MERRIMAC, BATTLE OF). On Feb. 3, 1865, near Ft. Monroe occurred the meeting on board a steamer of President Lincoln and Secretary Seward with the Confederate commissioners, which is known as the Hampton Roads Conference. At Sewell's Point, on Hampton Roads, during the year 1907, was held the Jamestown Tercenten nial Exposition.