Russian sailor killed in US Civil War commemorated in Maryland

CMWinkler

Colonel
Retired Moderator
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Location
Middle Tennessee
Russian sailor killed in US Civil War commemorated in Maryland
Published time: 7 Feb, 2017 17:31Edited time: 7 Feb, 2017 17:54
Get short URL
Expired Image Removed
Grave of Russian sailor, Nikolay Demidoff, in Annapolis, MD © / RT
AddThis Sharing Buttons
Share to Facebook37Share to TwitterShare to RedditShare to StumbleUponShare to Google+Share to Tumblr
A commemorative ceremony has been held by the grave of a Russian Navy sailor who died in Maryland during the American Civil War while helping the North fight the Confederates.
There are several versions of how exactly Nikolay Demidoff was killed, a representative of the Russian Defense Ministry at the ceremony told RT, adding that the sailor "was definitely a worthy serviceman."

More: https://www.rt.com/news/376613-us-russian-navy-memorial/
 
Russian sailor killed in US Civil War commemorated in Maryland
Published time: 7 Feb, 2017 17:31Edited time: 7 Feb, 2017 17:54
Get short URL
Expired Image Removed
Grave of Russian sailor, Nikolay Demidoff, in Annapolis, MD © / RT
AddThis Sharing Buttons
Share to Facebook37Share to TwitterShare to RedditShare to StumbleUponShare to Google+Share to Tumblr
A commemorative ceremony has been held by the grave of a Russian Navy sailor who died in Maryland during the American Civil War while helping the North fight the Confederates.
There are several versions of how exactly Nikolay Demidoff was killed, a representative of the Russian Defense Ministry at the ceremony told RT, adding that the sailor "was definitely a worthy serviceman."

More: https://www.rt.com/news/376613-us-russian-navy-memorial/
Thanks for posting.
 
russia 7.jpg
 
Interesting, though the article is a bit disappointing in that it doesn't go into further detail about how the man died.

Even if there are contradictory stories about how he came to be involved in the fighting, why didn't the writer include them?
 
768CosuH.gif

Russian sailor killed in US Civil War commemorated in Maryland
Published time: 7 Feb, 2017 17:31Edited time: 7 Feb, 2017 17:54
Get short URL
Expired Image Removed
Grave of Russian sailor, Nikolay Demidoff, in Annapolis, MD © / RT
AddThis Sharing Buttons
Share to Facebook37Share to TwitterShare to RedditShare to StumbleUponShare to Google+Share to Tumblr
A commemorative ceremony has been held by the grave of a Russian Navy sailor who died in Maryland during the American Civil War while helping the North fight the Confederates.
There are several versions of how exactly Nikolay Demidoff was killed, a representative of the Russian Defense Ministry at the ceremony told RT, adding that the sailor "was definitely a worthy serviceman."

More: https://www.rt.com/news/376613-us-russian-navy-memorial/
Clipper "Almaz"
 

Attachments

  • 768CosuH.gif
    768CosuH.gif
    563.7 KB · Views: 268
The following is a translation of part of a post that appeared on the Embassy of Russia in the USA facebook page. It appears that Demidoff was killed in an "incident" in Annapolis while the Russian sailors were seeking entertainment in town.
"THE GRAVE OF the HISTORY
February 4, 1864 the Ameircan Civil War claimed the life of a Russian Seaman, Nikolay Demidoff, of the Russian man-of-war Almaz. Began the when story of The a small fleet of Russian ships (on a tour of goodwill to the United States- https://t.co/4To0pMceD3 ) are destined for Washington You, HAD AT to the put in Annapolis of due to the blocking of ice to Potomac River.
When the Russian ships anchored, the crews came into town looking for entertainment. It should be borne in mind that, during the Federal occupation of Annapolis for the duration of the war, the city was a volatile place where lawlessness was a way of life. Demidoff had walked from the city docks to a nearby tavern, where he was shot dead in an incident.The Russian Embassy in Washington was promptly notified and the Maryland legislature, which happened to be in session, appointed a committee to investigate the incident. President Lincoln personally telegraphed Maryland Gov. Augustus W. Bradford, requesting the full details surrounding the shooting. Two days after the incident, funeral rites of the Russian Orthodox Church were held for Demidoff at the Naval Academy. The funeral was attended by high-ranking US Navy and US Army officers, a representative of the Russian Embassy and officers from the two Russian ships. After the service, the body was carried by Demidoffs shipmates to the National Cemetery in Annapolis, where it was buried. The Variag and the Almaz remained on the Severn throughout the winter.
Russian officers and Visiting seamen Helped the put out of fire Disastrous in Annapolis AT the southern end of the Main Street in the February 1864."

(Edit: Deleted duplicated sentence at end.)​
 
Last edited:
The following is a translation of part of a post that appeared on the Embassy of Russia in the USA facebook page. It appears that Demidoff was killed in an "incident" in Annapolis while the Russian sailors were seeking entertainment in town.
"THE GRAVE OF the HISTORY
February 4, 1864 the Ameircan Civil War claimed the life of a Russian Seaman, Nikolay Demidoff, of the Russian man-of-war Almaz.Began the when story of The a small fleet of Russian ships (on a tour of goodwill to the United States- https://t.co/4To0pMceD3 ) are destined for Washington You, HAD AT to the put in Annapolis of due to the blocking of ice to Potomac River.
When the Russian ships anchored, the crews came into town looking for entertainment. It should be borne in mind that, during the Federal occupation of Annapolis for the duration of the war, the city was a volatile place where lawlessness was a way of life. Demidoff had walked from the city docks to a nearby tavern, where he was shot dead in an incident.The Russian Embassy in Washington was promptly notified and the Maryland legislature, which happened to be in session, appointed a committee to investigate the incident. President Lincoln personally telegraphed Maryland Gov. Augustus W. Bradford, requesting the full details surrounding the shooting. Two days after the incident, funeral rites of the Russian Orthodox Church were held for Demidoff at the Naval Academy. The funeral was attended by high-ranking US Navy and US Army officers, a representative of the Russian Embassy and officers from the two Russian ships. After the service, the body was carried by Demidoffs shipmates to the National Cemetery in Annapolis, where it was buried. The Variag and the Almaz remained on the Severn throughout the winter.
Russian officers and Visiting seamen Helped the put out of fire Disastrous in Annapolis AT the southern end of the Main Street in the February 1864.
Russian officers and Visiting seamen Helped the put out of fire Disastrous in Annapolis AT the southern end of the Main Street in the February 1864."​
I wonder if this was the first Russian Orthodox service held at the Naval Academy.
 
Russian naval expedition to the shores of North America (1863-1864)


Russian naval expedition to the shores of North America (1863-1864) - naval action off the coast of the Russian Empire of the North American United States during a deterioration of relations between Russia, on the one hand, and Britain, France and Austria - on the other hand.


Background Expedition [citation
In January 1863 in the territory of the Kingdom of Poland, Lithuania, Belarus and partially Right-Bank Ukraine started a national liberation uprising.

The British and French governments to weaken Russia, decided to intervene in Polish affairs, declaring support for the rebels Poles.

The aggravation of relations with these powers, especially in view of the recent Crimean War, ending in defeat Russia, could not disturb the Russian government. As a preventive measure, it was decided to send to the shores of North America's naval connections.

This, at first, would be to create a threat to the British and French maritime trade routes in the event of war, and, secondly, will release the advance of large naval forces operating room crowding the Baltic.

On the other hand, in the United States in this period of civil war, and the presence in their ports of friendly naval forces in line with the interests of the Northern states.

Understanding with the President of the North American United States Abraham Lincoln was found quickly. This is in no small measure contributed to the skilful and active work of Russian naval attache in the United States captain 1 rank Stepan Stepanovich Lesovsky.

June 25, 1863, Emperor Alexander II signed the highest resolution on the parcel in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans cruising squadrons for action on the trade routes of Great Britain in the event of hostilities.

The expedition


Only two Russian squadron sailing screw ship has been sent to the shores of America.

In the Atlantic squadron operated just received the rank of Rear Admiral SS Lesovsky:

Frigates
"Alexander Nevsky" (captain A. Andreev)
"Relight" (Lieutenant NV Kopitov)
"Oslabya" (captain Butakov II)
Corvettes
"Varyag" (Lieutenant OK Kremer)
"Vityaz" (Lieutenant Commander Robert A. Lund) [1]
Clipper
"Diamond" (Lieutenant-Commander P. Green)
The squadron had orders to secretly pass the Baltic and the North Sea, based on New York. Frigate "Oslabya" moved from the Mediterranean Sea.

For the Pacific coast of America came up and began to be based on the San Francisco squadron Rear Admiral AA Popov:

Corvettes
"Bogatyr" (Lieutenant-Commander P. Chebyshev)
"Kalevala" (Lieutenant Karpellan [update])
"Rynda" (Lieutenant Commander GP Sfursa-Zhirkevich)
"Novik" (Lieutenant Commander CG Skryplev)
Clippers
"Abrek" (captain KP Pilkin)
"Gaydamak" (Lieutenant AA Peshchurov)
Holding Expedition [edit | edit wiki text]
By September 29 all the cruisers of the squadron of Rear Admiral Lesovsky arrived in New York.

October 1, 1863, Rear Admiral AA Popov appeared in San Francisco.

The arrival of Russian ships appeared timely.

Already in the early summer in the Canadian port Eskmolt there was a British squadron of five ships, including two frigates. British openly demonstrated their willingness to support the Confederate (southern).

In the Pacific the same theater as a powerful naval forces in the northerners did not have - the only battleship Monitor "kamancha" was not yet assembled as vezshy it (unassembled) sailboat "L'Aquila" sank in San Francisco Harbour, and parts had to lift off the bottom. Southerners also been active, and even had no bases in the Pacific, however, there was a threat of an attack on the Raiders California ports.

In view of the threat of attack Confederate frigates "Alabama" and "Sumter" San Francisco Rear Admiral Popov gave the order, containing, above all, the following lines:

In case of occurrence in the port of a corsair, unladen states rebelled, the eldest of those present at the port of commanders does signal other vessels "to prepare for battle and to dissolve a pair." If, however, burst into the port corsair straight starts enemy action, the senior commander at once should give a signal to other vessels "to weigh anchor on the ability of" disturber of the public peace and to attack.
The presence of Russian Navy warships restrained southerners from taking action in their presence.

In the first nine months of the ships Russian squadron visited by many US ports, cruising in the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, went to Cuba and Honduras, Jamaica and Bermuda, in Honolulu and Sitka.

Public opinion northern states welcomed the presence of Russian warships in their ports.

Immediately after the arrival of SS Lesovsky in New York Russian sailors were surrounded by exaggerated attention on the part of Secretary of State William Seward, and the Minister of Marine G. Welles. On the Russian ships visited not only the members of the cabinet, but also the leaders of the US Congress, senators, members of the House of Representatives and their families (over 500 people).

The headlines of American newspapers of the period stated: "The new alliance sealed by. Russia and the United States of brotherhood "," Russian cross weaves its folds with the stars and stripes "," enthusiastic popular demonstrations "," Big Parade on Fifth Street. "

On the other hand, the London "Times" October 2, 1863 wrote about the attitude of the people of New York to the Russian squadron arrived:

The municipality and the higher bourgeoisie decided to rain various honors Russian officers ... But the French and English sailors did not see on the shore, while up to 5000 of them are located in the confined space of the local marine park ... [officers] are not willing to play a supporting role in the festivities, where lions are Russian, and sailors are not allowed because Americans lured them into his service.

Reporting on the celebrations in Washington in honor of Russian sailors Seward wrote that "President Lincoln ... sincerely would like to welcome in the capital could reflect the warmth and friendliness that our country is experiencing with regard to Russia."

In addition to demonstrations of force, Russian sailors and also provided other assistance to the owners: for instance, commands a squadron of ships Popov took part in extinguishing the fire giant in San Francisco, October 23, 1863

results Expeditions
Russian squadron at San Francisco raid
The news of the sudden concentration of two Russian squadrons in US ports has made an impression on the business community in England: a potential threat to almost insecure in this situation, the busy commercial shipping sobering. In view of this the British government has decided to evade the French support. Austria also changed its position, and even further to provide some assistance to Russia in the suppression of the Polish uprising. France remained in isolation, too, was forced to abandon opposition to Russia and the US federal government.

In this context, the political results of the expedition surpassed all expectations.

After the suppression of the uprising in Poland squadron Rear Admiral Lesovsky July 20, 1864 has been revoked in the Baltic Sea, and a squadron of Rear Admiral Popov returned to the waters of the Far East.

Unfortunately, the expedition was not without loss: during the transition from Hakodate September 14, 1863 in heavy fog corvette "Novik" ran into rocks off Cape Los Reyes north of San Francisco. Drowned a sailor, another 12 people were hospitalized. The broken hull of the corvette was subsequently auctioned /
 
This article that I found gives more detail. Sailors drinking and getting into a fight, go figure.:eek:
The Russians probably questioned the length of swords the cavalry were carrying and bedlam ensued.

ON THURSDAY, February 4, 1864 the Ameircan Civil War claimed the life of a Russian Seaman, N. Demidoff, of the Russian man-of-war Almay. The story began when a small fleet of Russian ships, destined for Washington, had to put in at Annapolis due to ice blocking the Potomac River. When the Russian ships anchored, the crews came into town looking for entertainment. It should be borne in mind that, during the Federal occupation of Annapolis for the duration of the war, the city was a volatile place where lawlessness was a way of life. Demidoff and his mates from the Almay were patronizing the local taverns when one barkeep refused to serve the group as they were already fairly inebriated; Demidoff took offense and began to hassle the barkeep.

Noticing a group of Federal cavalrymen in the establishment, the barkeep asked them to escort Demidoff and his companions out of the establishment. The Russians went peacefully but, once outside, they assailed their escort and fled.

Pursued by the cavalryman the Russians fled into an establishemnt owned by William T. League, with whom an argument ensued and who, in the course of that argument, shot Demidoff.

(Point of interest: William T. League, the shooter, was charged with murder and, on Tuesday, Februrary 9, was released on two thousand dollars' bail)
http://www.navpooh.com/natcem_demidoff.html
 
This article that I found gives more detail. Sailors drinking and getting into a fight, go figure.:eek:
The Russians probably questioned the length of swords the cavalry were carrying and bedlam ensued.

ON THURSDAY, February 4, 1864 the Ameircan Civil War claimed the life of a Russian Seaman, N. Demidoff, of the Russian man-of-war Almay. The story began when a small fleet of Russian ships, destined for Washington, had to put in at Annapolis due to ice blocking the Potomac River. When the Russian ships anchored, the crews came into town looking for entertainment. It should be borne in mind that, during the Federal occupation of Annapolis for the duration of the war, the city was a volatile place where lawlessness was a way of life. Demidoff and his mates from the Almay were patronizing the local taverns when one barkeep refused to serve the group as they were already fairly inebriated; Demidoff took offense and began to hassle the barkeep.

Noticing a group of Federal cavalrymen in the establishment, the barkeep asked them to escort Demidoff and his companions out of the establishment. The Russians went peacefully but, once outside, they assailed their escort and fled.

Pursued by the cavalryman the Russians fled into an establishemnt owned by William T. League, with whom an argument ensued and who, in the course of that argument, shot Demidoff.

(Point of interest: William T. League, the shooter, was charged with murder and, on Tuesday, Februrary 9, was released on two thousand dollars' bail)
http://www.navpooh.com/natcem_demidoff.html
And then manifested our drunken Russian spirit. When we drink so much so that often behave and still.
 
Back
Top