The Russian Navy had to defend the United States from military aggression. Russian artists

ANDREY ANDREEVICH In July 1992, Voznesensky flew to Novosibirsk. Tanya Bogdanova found sponsors. I don’t know how much they allocated, but Voznesensky flew in. Once upon a time in Akademgorodok, the party authorities canceled his poetry concert, now he wanted to fill that long-standing

Exactly 155 years ago, ships of the Russian Imperial Navy began arriving in New York. A few days later, another squadron appeared on the opposite coast of America, and the US Secretary of the Navy wrote in his diary: "God bless the Russians!" But why did St. Petersburg decide to defend Washington's interests with military force?

The visit of the Russian fleet to the shores of the United States caused a storm in the European and American newspapers of that time. The assessment of those events still provokes disputes among historians, first of all, disagreements relate to what was the nature of cooperation between St. Petersburg and Washington. Formally, Russia and the United States were not bound by any allied obligations, but they were brought together by the presence of common enemies, and by the first half of 1861, also by the similarity of internal problems.

English girl shits everyone

The presidential election of 1860 was won by the representative of the young Republican Party, Abraham Lincoln - this was the first successful attempt of the "elephants" to break into the White House. Representatives of the future "great old party" at that time were considered dangerous abolitionist radicals who advocated the complete abolition of slavery. The main asset was fanatics, for example, the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Harriet Beecher Stowe was the daughter, sister and wife of preachers. However, not everyone shared this religious fervor.

The Republicans also enjoyed the support of various "indigenous" movements that advocated limiting migration to the United States. Second and third generation Americans were unhappy with the growing flow of immigrants from Europe, especially from famine-ridden Ireland. Settlers actively dumped on the labor market, “squeezing out” locals with low-skilled professions. High-ranking Republicans despised all this "uneducated rabble" from the "indigenous", as can be seen from the diaries of the same Lincoln, but they did not refuse their votes in the elections. In addition, the Irish were Catholics, and the “natives” were God-fearing Protestants, which ensured adhesion with religious abolitionists.

However, even the support of the "indigenous" could not ensure the victory of the Republicans in the elections. Everything was decided by an internal conflict in the Democratic Party, as a result of which the “donkeys” nominated two candidates at once. As a result, Abraham Lincoln won less than 40% of the vote and obviously could not call himself the leader of all Americans, but he nevertheless became the 16th president of the United States.

After the victory, Lincoln's views became less radical. According to his updated position, the abolition of slavery is a distant bright goal, which, of course, should be aimed at, but at the moment, nothing should threaten the black property of respected gentlemen from the South.

Despite this, the election of “His African Majesty Lincoln” as president was the last straw after which the South said “enough” and announced the start of secession from the Union (as the Americans called their country in the middle of the 19th century). Lincoln did not want to let the southerners go, which led to.

At the same time, in the Russian Empire, the best minds of the fatherland were preparing the Great Reforms of Alexander II, including the abolition of serfdom. The Russian autocrat did not have to be distracted by elections and debates in Congress, but a part of society clearly took hostility to his reforms, especially in the national outskirts.

The proud Georgian princes and the nobility of the Polish lords were extremely dissatisfied with the fact that the Russian emperor was freeing their serfs.

The democratic opposition in St. Petersburg, Warsaw and London, on the contrary, considered the reforms half-hearted.

A particularly difficult situation developed in the Kingdom of Poland, where separatist sentiments were strong even before the “great transformations”. At a certain stage, a cunning plan matured in the minds of the tsarist officials - to draw up lists of disloyal Poles and "shave" them into soldiers for 20 years, sending them to serve somewhere in Siberia. The Poles, who were not happy with the prospect of "dressing in the uniform of the occupiers", at the beginning of 1863 decided to rebel.

In both internal conflicts - both Russian and American - London and Paris took the most active part, promising support for the Poles and southerners. Their press diligently formed the corresponding public opinion (for example, Lincoln appeared on the pages of European newspapers as a tyrant who seized power and wages a cruel war with his own people). Fictional or at least strongly embellished stories about the atrocities that northern thugs are doing in peaceful southern cities were actively replicated.

Similarly, gloomy Petersburg was portrayed, which is ready to commit any crimes, just to keep freedom-loving Poland in its chains.

By the way, according to the ideologists of the uprising, it was the Commonwealth, which included the Western Russian lands, that was the true heir of Ancient Rus', while the “spoiled” descendants of the Mongol-Tatar conquerors live in Russia. This ideologeme was borrowed from the Polish lords by the current Ukrainian elites practically without changes.

Ultimately, the Poles received only moral support from the Europeans, but the southerners persuaded the British for more significant help. Here we can recall the military cargo that smugglers delivered to the South, bypassing the blockade established by the northerners, the construction of the Alabama cruiser at British shipyards. The life of the latter turned out to be short - less than two years, but during this time he managed to intercept and plunder 68 American merchant ships, and his captain Rafael Sams became a legend.

Ours in New York

By the summer of 1863, it became obvious that London was trying to put together an international coalition against Russia, which could include France, Austria, which had also previously participated in the division of Poland, as well as Sweden, which had views of Russian Finland. In the event of a major conflict, the Baltic fleet would have been locked up in Kronstadt, which had already happened during the Crimean War.

So the experience of "Alabama", which used "neutral" French and English ports, led the patron of the fleet, Grand Duke Konstantin and Minister of the Navy Nikolai Crabbe, to an interesting idea: could the Americans provide their "neutral" ports for Russian ships? Only 5-6 ships would be able to paralyze the transatlantic trade of the British and French.

Washington was ready to provide such assistance. The British at that time were actively building up their forces (especially naval ones) in Canada - either in Primorye, or for intervention in the American Civil War. A few extra warships at Lincoln's hand would obviously not hurt, as well as the friendly shoulder of Alexander II.

The expedition was prepared in the strictest secrecy. It was headed by a brilliant naval officer, Stepan Lesovsky, who had already been to the United States a few years earlier to inspect the construction of ships for the needs of Russia.

The squadron included the latest ships - the pride of the imperial fleet. For example, the frigate "Oslyabya" was commissioned into the naval forces only in 1861 and had not yet returned from its first voyage. During a stay in the Italian Ragusa, his captain received a dispatch by diplomatic mail - to advance to the American shores. It was the Oslyabya that was the first to anchor in the New York roadstead on September 24. The rest of the ships, in order not to attract attention, left Kronstadt one by one and "got together" already in the open sea. By the end of September (also singly, since the squadron was scattered by a storm shortly before the end of the transition), they arrived in the United States.

At that time, New York was openly disloyal to the federal government - Mayor Fernando Wood openly called for secession after the southerners. Богатый портовый город страдал от пробуксовки торговли и искренне не понимал, почему его уроженцы должны умирать за свободу «каких-то там ниггеров». Immigrants from Ireland and other European countries also did not rush to the front, but they had no money to pay off the service. All this in July 1863 led to an anti-draft riot, the suppression of which had to send troops, so necessary at that moment at the front.

The presence of friendly Russian military personnel in the city had a calming effect on Lincoln's supporters and a sobering effect on his opponents. Therefore, the press of the northerners greeted the appearance of "Oslyabi" with rejoicing. Rumors spread that several more ships were on the way, and a secret alliance was concluded between St. Petersburg and Washington against Britain and France, so that in the event of an Anglo-French intervention, which was feared like fire in the North, Russian sailors would certainly come to the rescue.

The London press commented on the news with British haughtiness. According to the Times, the Oslyabya did not have time to return from the Mediterranean to Kronstadt before the waters of the Gulf of Finland covered the ice, so the captain decided to go to New York for the winter. Consequently, there is nothing to worry about at all, no one is plotting anything against England, she is still the leading maritime power and nothing threatens her trade.

A few days later it turned out that the "mythical Russian ships" really appeared in New York. And soon the news came, which confirmed the rumors about the existence of a secret pact between Washington and St. Petersburg.

Ghost of Alabama

In the summer of 1863, Andrey Popov, commander of the Pacific squadron, surveyed Primorye, which had recently become part of Russia. This born naval officer had an extremely quarrelsome character. He practically openly considered the Grand Duke Constantine a land rat, and treated Crabbe a little better. But he was tormented by the same thoughts as the St. Petersburg authorities: they would find out about the outbreak of war in British Canada much earlier than he did, after which Popov, along with his squadron, would be taken lukewarm. Therefore, the squadron commander independently decided to move to San Francisco, where, closer to the telegraph and civilization, he was going to get up for the winter. His ships appeared off the Atlantic coast shortly after the news of Lesovsky's arrival in New York reached the Pacific coast.

In San Francisco at that time they were extremely frightened by rumors about the "Alabama", which someone allegedly saw near the city. Its commander, the infamous pirate and rebel Raphael Sams, has become so bold (again, allegedly) that he is going to attack the weakly defended city (the fleet of the northerners ensured the blockade of the South and chased the real Alabama across the Atlantic).

The appearance of the Russians was taken as a gift from heaven. Popov was asked a direct question: are his ships ready to engage the rebels? To a direct question, an equally direct answer was given: "yes."

The northern press rejoiced, the British were gloomy, and the tsarist diplomacy was in an idiotic position. For several years, St. Petersburg insisted on the inadmissibility of interference in domestic American affairs by the European powers and warned London and Paris against such actions. It turns out that this restriction does not apply to the Russians themselves.

Baron Eduard Stekl - the tsar's envoy to Washington - got out as best he could. Russia recognizes only the North, and considers the southerners not an armed opposition, but rebels of the lowest sort. Therefore, the Confederate maritime forces are ordinary pirates. And what should any honest captain do when he sees a pirate who is trying to rob a peaceful ship or settlement? That's right, help fight him back. Naturally, no one believed this "excuse". The talkative Popov was promptly removed from his post as commander.

Nevertheless, London and Paris were finally convinced that there was a military treaty between Washington and Petersburg, according to which an attack on one of the powers would mean automatic joining in the struggle of the other. Considering that by that time the British and French were tightly bogged down in a completely mediocre occupation of Mexico, they really did not want to wage a war on three fronts at once.

"God bless the Russians!"

During the visit, the Russian sailors showed their best side. The Americans expected to see "uncouth barbarians", but they were presented with well-educated and well-mannered people who spoke fluent English and French.

"Petersburgers" paraded around New York and entertained the high society of Washington, Boston and the same New York with marine stories. Many prominent Americans visited the Russian ships, and the main guest was Mary Todd Lincoln, the first lady of the United States.

While the Baltic sailors demonstrated Russian gallantry, the Pacific sailors showed Russian courage and courage by taking an active part in extinguishing the great fire in San Francisco on October 23, 1863. Six sailors died, many received severe burns.

Five years ago, in 2013, the local gay community tried to get the celebrations canceled, which were held with varying frequency in memory of this feat of Russian sailors.

The northerners were well aware of the true goals of the visit, but rumors of a secret agreement came to the fore in the public mind. The Americans sincerely believed that in the event of an invasion by the British, the Russian fleet was ready to launch a counter intervention on the side of the North.

At the beginning of the 20th century, when relations between the United States and Russia were completely damaged, historians found out for certain that there were no secret agreements. Lesovsky had instructions only in the event of a war between Russia and England, Popov acted at his own peril and risk. This gave rise to a number of already new accusations against Russia. According to the new version, St. Petersburg pursued exclusively its own goals, was not going to help the United States and treacherously took advantage of the confidence of the Americans.

In recent years, a more balanced opinion has dominated among historians. Yes, St. Petersburg acted in its own interests, but it did not hide it - the St. Petersburg newspapers wrote about the goals of the expedition, making it clear to the British what awaits them if they decide to intervene in the Polish issue, and these texts were reprinted by the American media. At the same time, Lincoln himself and his administration were well aware that they had no secret agreements with the Russians. The British, on the contrary, remained in the dark and, when planning their actions, were forced to take into account the factor of the Russian fleet. Thus, the very fact of the appearance of two squadrons may have saved the United States from invasion.

As for the assessment from the direct participants in the events, US Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wells wrote in his diary in the first days of the visit of the Russian fleet: "God bless the Russians!" At about the same time, Alexander Gorchakov, head of tsarist diplomacy, left the following entry: "The union between our countries exists de facto due to the coincidence of our political interests and principles."

Painter, graphic artist

From a family of hereditary Tula icon painters. He received his early art education in his family. Enjoyed the patronage of the director of the Imperial glass factory M. A. Yazykov.

As a volunteer, he studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1845–1858), began his studies in the class of landscape painting under M. N. Vorobyov, and from 1855 studied in the battle painting workshop of B. P. Villevalde. From 1849 he received a pensioner's allowance from the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts. In 1852 for the painting "Birch Grove" ("Birch Alley. View of the Tomilov Uspenskoye Estate") and in 1853 for the painting "Folk Scene at the Fair in Staraya Ladoga" he was awarded small silver medals. In 1854, for the paintings "School teacher" and "Peasant family on arable land" - large silver medals. In 1856, for the painting "Demyanov's Ear" on the plot of the fable of I. A. Krylov - a small gold medal. In 1858, for the painting Joyful Letter, he received the title of a class artist and was appointed, together with the artist P. P. Ikov, an assistant drawing teacher in the class of academician I. N. Vistelius, where he taught for a short time.

Twice he was accepted for the execution of the program for a large gold medal, working on the paintings "Inn" and "Petersburg Tavern". In 1859 he made a trip to Nizhny Novgorod, collecting material for the painting "Tatars loading tea in Nizhny Novgorod". In 1860, for this painting, he was awarded a large gold medal, received the title of class artist of the 1st degree and the right to retire abroad.

Before leaving in 1861-1862 he worked in St. Petersburg. In 1863–1867 he was a pensioner at the Imperial Academy of Arts. Traveled to Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Brussels, Antwerp. In 1863-1865 he was in France: he lived in Paris, worked in the vicinity of Fontainebleau and in Barbizon. He closely communicated with V. G. Perov, V. G. Schwartz, A. A. Rizzoni, who was then living in Paris. He spent the last year of retirement in Rome, from where he returned to Russia in 1867.

From the 1870s he lived in Kaluga, Tula, Nizhny Novgorod. He worked mainly as a genre painter; painted landscapes, was fond of album travel sketches. In the late 1850s - 1860s, he completed a number of pictorial and graphic portraits (M. A. Yazykov, M. S. Shchepkin, I. F. Gorbunov, P. V. Annensky). Member of the "Friday drawing evenings" at the Society for the Encouragement of Artists. After 1873, apparently, he did not engage in active creative activity.

Exhibited works at academic exhibitions (1853–1899, intermittently), MUZhV (1860), Moscow Society of Art Lovers (1872), International Exhibition in London (1862), World Exhibitions in Paris (1867, 1881), All-Russian Art and Industrial Exhibition in Moscow (1882).

Popov's works are in many museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum and others.

Andrey Andreevich Popov(-) - genre painter.

Popov enjoyed the support of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists. His painting Demyanov's Ear (based on the plot of Krylov's fable) at the academic exhibition in 1857 made a great impression on the public with the characteristic and expressiveness of the depicted faces and with its sound comicality. She delivered a small gold medal to the artist. At the same time, he exhibited paintings: "Return from the city" and a portrait of the children of the city of Yazykov.

In 1860, the best of all Popov's works appeared: "Tea Warehouse at the Nizhny Novgorod Fair", for which the Academy awarded him the title of class artist of the 1st degree and a large gold medal; after that, Popov went on a trip in 1863, having delivered before that to the academic exhibition of 1861 the paintings: Praying Mantis and The Artist's Workshop.

Popov spent the term of his overseas retirement in Paris and Rome, from where he returned to St. Petersburg. in 1867 and brought back a painting painted there: "Festivities on Monte Piño". This was his last work, not devoid of merit, but incomparably weaker than his first paintings. In general, the brilliant hopes that Popov gave at the beginning of his career did not come true: due to his illness and the resulting decline in energy, he worked weaker and weaker, and in the end he almost completely stopped painting.

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An excerpt characterizing Popov, Andrey Andreevich (artist)

Popov Andrey Andreevich(1832–1896) is a well-known Russian genre painter.
Andrey Andreevich Popov became a landmark figure for Russian painting of the 19th century. Having received an excellent education from his own father, the young talent, fueled by universal recognition, gradually grew into a great master painter.

Andrei Andreevich Popov was born in 1832 in Tula in the family of a little-known provincial artist. Under the guidance of his father, a provincial painter, he received initial artistic training. In 1846 he entered the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, where his teachers were first M. Vorobiev, and later B. Villevalde.
From the very beginning of his adult career, Andrey Popov showed great promise as an artist. With his lively and interesting manner of depicting images, the artist won great sympathy among painters and art critics, both professionals and ordinary amateurs. He took an active part in academic exhibitions, where he presented his works to a wide range of connoisseurs - painters.

Popov enjoyed the support of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists. His painting Demyanov's Ear (based on the plot of Krylov's fable) at the academic exhibition in 1857 made a great impression on the public with the characteristic and expressiveness of the depicted faces and with its sound comicality. She delivered a small gold medal to the artist. At the same time, he exhibited paintings: "Return from the city" and "Portrait of the children of Mr. Yazykov."

In 1860, the best of all Popov's works appeared: "Tea Warehouse at the Nizhny Novgorod Fair." This painting became the apogee of the artist's creative path, raising him to the peak of his artistic career. This picture brought the artist a large gold medal and the title of "class artist of the 1st degree", after which Andrei Andreevich Popov went on a trip in 1863, having provided his paintings "Praying Mantis" and "Artist's Workshop" to the academic exhibition of 1861.

Popov spent the term of his foreign retirement in Paris and Rome, from where he returned to St. Petersburg in 1867 and brought back a painting painted there: "Festivities on Monte Piño." This was his last work, not without merit, but incomparably weaker than his first paintings. Upon his return to Russia, the name of the artist was heard by professionals and amateurs. Collectors were keenly interested in his paintings. However, since the beginning of the 1870s, the name of the artist was mentioned less and less even among connoisseurs of fine art, and since 1873, paintings by A.A. Popova finally disappear from exhibitions.
In general, the brilliant hopes that Popov gave at the beginning of his career did not come true: due to his illness and the resulting decline in energy, he worked weaker and weaker, and in the end he almost completely stopped painting.

Unfortunately, Andrei Andreevich Popov did not leave a great creative heritage. Having an extraordinary view of things, everyday situations, and life in general, the artist could create much more, however, fate, extremely unfavorable to the artist, prevented the implementation of all his bold plans ...
Andrei Andreevich Popov died on June 24, 1896 at the age of 64 in his native Tula, where he was buried.

Andrei Andreevich Popov entered the history of Russian painting as a bright representative of the genre painting of the 19th century. This genre is located at the junction of several pictorial trends and is a kind of symbiosis of portrait, still life and landscape. In the center of the genre picture is always the interaction of characters with each other. The background for a genre painting can be ordinary city life with its everyday chores or people on vacation.
Several of the artist's works adorn the exposition of the Russian Museum, a number of the artist's paintings are in private collections.

According to materials: Wikipedia, Encyclopedia of World Art - Vilnius, UAB "Bestiary", 2008 Information portal “Russian painting from A to Z”, Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron (1890-1907), 82 vols. and 4 additional tt. - M.: Terra, 2001. - 40,726 pages, A.A. Polovtsev Russian biographical dictionary (1896-1918) in 25 volumes. St. Petersburg: Imperial Russian Historical Society, 1912. ,P. N. Petrov, “Collection of materials for the history of the Imperial. Academy of Arts for 100 years of its existence, St. Petersburg. 1866, vol. III, pp. 336, 350, 355, 386, 439, 447. N. P. Sobko. Dictionary of Russian Artists, Vol. III, no. I. S.-Pb. 1899 Savinov A. N. N. P. Petrov // Russian Art. Essays on the life and work of artists of the second half of the 19th century / edited by Leonov A.I. - M .: Publishing House "Art", 1962. - T. 1. - P. 53. - 692 p.

In accordance with Article 1282 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, the works of this author have passed into the public domain