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 /