The US-Russian Alliance that Saved the Union

Started by milos, July 06, 2015, 08:02:17 AM

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milos

This is a very long essay, so I will quote some of the most interesting parts. The American Civil War was just a step away from becoming the First World War.

http://www.voltairenet.org/article169488.html

U.S. Civil War: The US-Russian Alliance that Saved the Union

by Webster G. Tarpley

April 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Civil War, which began when Confederate forces opened fire upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The following essay by Webster Tarpley, tells about the largely untold alliance between President Abraham Lincoln and Russian Tsar Alexander II, which by many accounts was key to the North winning the U.S. Civil War, sealing the defeat of the British strategic design.

Voltaire Network | Washington D. C. (États-Unis) | 25 April 2011

One hundred fifty years after the attack on Fort Sumter, the international strategic dimension of the American Civil War represents a much-neglected aspect of Civil War studies. In offering a survey of some of the main issues involved, one feels required to justify the importance of the topic. It is indeed true that, as things turned out, the international strategic dimension of the 1861-65 conflict was of secondary importance. However, it was an aspect that repeatedly threatened to thrust itself into the center of the war, transforming the entire nature of the conflict and indeed threatening to overturn the entire existing world system. The big issue was always a British-French attack on the United States to preserve the Confederate States of America. This is certainly how Union and Confederate leaders viewed the matter, and how some important people in London, St. Petersburg, Paris, and Berlin did as well.

The Union and Russia

The Russian-British rivalry was of course the central antagonism of European history after the Napoleonic era, and the Russian attitude towards London coincided with the traditional American resentment against the former colonial power. Benjamin Platt Thomas's older study shows that the US-Russian convergence became decisive during the Crimean War; while Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire attacked Russia, the United States was ostentatiously friendly to the court of St. Petersburg. He depicts Russian minister to Washington Éduard de Stoeckl as a diplomat "whose sole aim was to nurture the chronic anti-British feeling in the United States." (Thomas 111) According to Thomas, Stoeckl succeeded so well that there was even a perceptible chance that the United States might enter the Crimean War on the Russian side. The US press and public were all on the side of Russia, and hostile to the Anglo-French, to the chagrin of the erratic US President Pierce (who had been close to Admiralty agent Giuseppe Mazzini's pro-British Young America organization) and the doughface politician James Buchanan. The latter, at that time US envoy to London, embraced the British view of the Tsar as "the Despot." (Thomas 117) Thomas finds that "the Crimean War undoubtedly proved the wisdom of Russia's policy of cultivating American friendship, and in fact, drew the two nations closer together." (Thomas 120) But Thomas glosses over some of the more important US-UK frictions during this phase, which included British army recruiting in the US, and the ejection of the British ambassador as persona non grata. (Thomas 120)

Turning to the conflict of 1861-65, Thomas points out that "in the first two years of the war, when its outcome was still highly uncertain, the attitude of Russia was a potent factor in preventing Great Britain and France from adopting a policy of aggressive intervention." (Thomas 129) He shows that the proposed British-French interference promoted by Lord Russell, the Foreign Secretary, in October 1862 was "deterred at this time mainly" by the Russian attitude, and cites Russell's note to Palmerston concluding that Britain "ought not to move at present without Russia." (Thomas 132)

The critical importance of Russian help in deterring the British and Napoleon III as well is borne out by a closer analysis. As early as 1861, Russia alerted the Lincoln government to the machinations of Napoleon III, who was already scheming to promote a joint UK-France-Russia intervention in favor of the Confederacy. As Henry Adams, the son and private secretary of US Ambassador to London Charles Francis Adams, sums up the strategic situation during Lee's first invasion of Maryland, on the eve of the Battle of Antietam: These were the terms of this singular problem as they presented themselves to the student of diplomacy in 1862: Palmerston, on September 14, under the impression that the President was about to be driven from Washington and the Army of the Potomac dispersed, suggested to Russell that in such a case, intervention might be feasible. Russell instantly answered that, in any case, he wanted to intervene and should call a Cabinet for the purpose. Palmerston hesitated; Russell insisted...."

On September 22, 1862, Lincoln used the Confederate repulse at Antietam to issue a warning that slavery would be abolished in areas still engaged in rebellion against the United States on January 1, 1863. The Russian Tsar Alexander II had liberated the 23 million serfs of the Russian Empire in 1861, so this underlined the nature of the US-Russian convergence as a force for human freedom. This imminent Emancipation Proclamation was also an important political factor in slowing Anglo-French meddling, but it would not have been decisive by itself. The British cabinet, as Seward had predicted, regarded emancipation as an act of desperation. The London Times accused Lincoln in lurid and racist terms of wanting to provoke a slave rebellion and a race war.

The Russian Fleets in New York and San Francisco

The most dramatic gestures of cooperation between the Russian Empire and the United States came in the autumn of 1863, as the Laird rams crisis hung in the balance. On September 24, the Russian Baltic fleet began to arrive in New York harbor. On October 12, the Russian Far East fleet began to arrive in San Francisco. The Russians, judging that they were on the verge of war with Britain and France over the British-fomented Polish insurrection of 1863, had taken this measure to prevent their ships from being bottled up in their home ports by the superior British fleet. These ships were also the tokens of the vast Russian land armies that could be thrown in the scales on a number of fronts, including the northwest frontier of India; the British had long been worried about such an eventuality. In mid-July 1863, French Foreign Minister Droun de Lhuys was offering London the joint occupation of Poland by means of invasion. But the experience of the Confederate commerce raiders had graphically illustrated just how effective even a limited number of warships could be when they turned to commerce raiding, which is what the Russian naval commanders had been ordered to do in case of hostilities. The Russian admirals had also been told that, if the US and Russia were to find themselves at war with Britain and France, the Russian ships should place themselves under Lincoln's command and operate in synergy with the US Navy against the common enemies. It is thus highly significant that the Russian ships were sent to the United States.

US Navy Secretary Gideon Welles: "God Bless the Russians"

Coming on the heels of the bloody Union reverse at Chickamauga, the news of the Russian fleet unleashed an immense wave of euphoria in the North. It was this moment that inspired the later verses of Oliver Wendell Holmes, one of the most popular writers in America, for the 1871 friendship visit of the Russian Grand Duke Alexis:

Bleak are our shores with the blasts of December,
Fettered and chill is the rivulet's flow;
Thrilling and warm are the hearts that remember
Who was our friend when the world was our foe.
Fires of the North in eternal communion,
Blend your broad flashes with evening's bright star;
God bless the Empire that loves the Great Union
Strength to her people! Long life to the Czar!


The Russians, as Clay reported to Seward and Lincoln, were delighted in turn by the celebration of their fleets, which stayed in American waters for over six months as the Polish revolt was quelled. The Russian officers were lionized and feted, and had their pictures taken by the famous New York photographer Matthew Brady. When an attack on San Francisco by the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah seemed to be imminent, the Russian admiral there gave orders to his ships to defend the city if necessary. There were no major Union warships on the scene, so Russia was about to fight for the United States. In the event, the Confederate raider did not attack. Soon after the war, Russia sold Alaska to the United States, in part because they felt that an influx of Americans searching for gold was inevitable, and in part to keep the British from seizing control of this vast region. Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles wrote in his diary, "The Russian fleet has come out of the Baltic and is now in New York, or a large number of the vessels have arrived.... In sending them to this country at this time there is something significant." Welles was fully justified in his famous concluding words, "God bless the Russians!"
One Christ. One Body of Christ. One Eucharist. One Church.

Walter Josh

This thesis is so preposterously breathtaking, it seriously questions the mental stability of the writer!!!!!!!!!!

Solar

Quote from: Walter Josh on November 27, 2015, 08:12:30 PM
This thesis is so preposterously breathtaking, it seriously questions the mental stability of the writer!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, along the lines of those that claim JFK wasn't killed, that aliens landed, stopped time, swapped him out with a clone and no one was the wiser.
Sadly these writers have a following, granted, most are in mental institutions, but a following none the less. :laugh:
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kalash

Quote from: Walter Josh on November 27, 2015, 08:12:30 PM
This thesis is so preposterously breathtaking, it seriously questions the mental stability of the writer!!!!!!!!!!
You are right, how could Russia, well known Evil empire, could be helping to Empire og Good.  "Yep, along the lines of those that claim JFK wasn't killed, that aliens landed, stopped time, swapped him out with a clone" or that USSR was fighting Hitler - obvious lie, everybody knows it.

kalash

Quote from: kalash on November 29, 2015, 09:32:06 AM
You are right, how could Russia, well known Evil empire,  helping to Empire of Good.  "Yep, along the lines of those that claim JFK wasn't killed, that aliens landed, stopped time, swapped him out with a clone" or that USSR was fighting Hitler - obvious lie, everybody knows it.

Walter Josh

A couple of observations:
*Giuseppe Mazzini, along w/Garibaldi and Cavour was a force behind Italian unification. He founded Young Italy not Young America and was not an Admiralty agent, whatever that is.
* In 1853, Russia was soundly defeated by Britain, France and the Ottomans in the Crimean War and was hardly a military threat to anyone. In fact, the notion of Russian military superiority is mythology, excepting a period late in WW2. From the first Czars, Russia was a punching bag for the Swedes, the French, the

kalash

Quote from: Walter Josh on November 29, 2015, 12:38:40 PM
A couple of observations:
From the first Czars, Russia was a punching bag for the Swedes, the French
Tell us more, mister Science!

Walter Josh

my apologies. computer problems (continued)

Ottomans, the Japanese and the Germans. In August, 1914, the latter crushed two Russian Armies at Tannenberg, East Prussia. inflicting casualties in excess of 500,000 in a matter of a few days; effectively driving Russia out of the Great War.
*In 1860, the British Navy ruled the seas going when and where it pleased w/a Fleet in excess of 1,000 warships as Britain approached its zenith of Empire. But for the diplomatic skills of S'ecy of State Charles Adams, the government of Lord Palmerston would have blockaded the ports and sea lanes of the North, which they were powerless to stop. Had this happened it is highly likely that the outcome of our Civil War would have been far different. Recall that Britain and the South were natural economic allies because of cotton, the raw material that kept the great mills at Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester humming. That Russia could have impacted this in any way is hysterical.

kalash


"... In August, 1914, the latter crushed two Russian Armies at Tannenberg, East Prussia. inflicting casualties in excess of 500,000 in a matter of a few days; effectively driving Russia out of the Great War..."

This is so ignorant, I don't even want to comment
----
"...That Russia could have impacted this in any way is hysterical..."

You probably do not heard about "Big game". Check it up - Russia and British empire in 60-80s.  And maybe you will understand how and where Russia could impact British empire.

milos

During the mid 1800s, United States and Russia were natural allies. British Empire was the greatest enemy of the Russian Empire, especially after the Crimean War. At the same time, British interest was to control the American South, mostly because of the cotton they needed for their growing industry, and so they have helped the South to separate from the United States. Maybe it is too much to claim that the Russian help to the Union was crucial for their victory, I don't know what would have happened if the British decided to attack the Russian warships there.
One Christ. One Body of Christ. One Eucharist. One Church.

Walter Josh

Kalash, assuming you're serious,  lets discuss Tannenberg, apparently the object of your derisive remark. Up front, my source is Sir John Keegan, senior lecturer in military history at Sandhurst, the West Point of Britain, and author of "The First World War." He writes, " Tannenberg devastated the Russian Military to such a degree that their disgraced Commander, Samsanov, shot himself. " The Russians Military remained inept and ineffectual till  1917, by which time the Bolshevik Revolution had consumed Russia.

WHAT SAY YOU, KALASH???????????

kalash

#11
Quote from: Walter Josh on November 30, 2015, 07:53:55 PM
Sir John Keegan, senior lecturer in military history at Sandhurst, the West Point of Britain, and author of "The First World War." He writes, " Tannenberg devastated the Russian Military to such a degree that their disgraced Commander, Samsanov, shot himself. " The Russians Military remained inept and ineffectual till  1917, by which time the Bolshevik Revolution had consumed Russia.

WHAT SAY YOU, KALASH???????????inept and ineffectual till  1917
I say Keegan, same as Beevor, did good job, Cold war needed such propaganda.  As to "devastation of russian military, so it remained inept and ineffectual till 1917" it is just a food for brain dead audience.
While two russian armies in Eastern Prussia were defeated (they were made to attack while not being comletly ready, for the sace of saving France. Germany, that needed every man, during they push to Paris, had to send several divisions from Western front to Prussia to stop russians.  And Paris was saved. At the same time, on the south of Eastern front  much greater  Battle of Galicia was going on, also known as the Battle of Lemberg, it was a major battle between Russia and Austria-Hungary during the early stages of World War I in 1914. In the course of the battle, the Austro-Hungarian armies were severely defeated and forced out of Galicia, while the Russians captured Lemberg and, for approximately nine months, ruled Eastern Galicia.
The battle severely damaged the Austro-Hungarian Army, destroyed a large portion of its trained officers, and crippled Austria. Though the Russians had been crushed at the Battle of Tannenberg, their victory at Lemberg prevented that defeat from fully taking its toll on Russian public opinion. So, Germany also had to send their limited and so much needed on Western front resourses, to help Austria-Hungary to stay in war.

As to " inept and ineffectual till  1917" sir Keegan lied again. There was a little thing in 1916, called Brusilov offensive,  also known as the "June Advance", of June-September 1916 and it was the Russian Empire's greatest feat of arms during World War I, and among the most lethal offensives in world history. Historian Graydon Tunstall called the Brusilov Offensive the worst crisis of World War I for Austria-Hungary and the Triple Entente's greatest victory. Brusilov's operation achieved its original goal of forcing Germany to halt its attack on Verdun and transfer considerable forces to the East. It also broke the back of the Austro-Hungarian army, which suffered the majority of the casualties. Afterward, the Austro-Hungarian army increasingly had to rely on the support of the German army for its military successes.
While several miles advancement on Western front was considered big success, payed by huge loses, russian army advanced more than hundred miles during Brusilov offensive.
Dont forget that Russia also had to fight Turkey. And after failure of Romania, had to extend front line for another 400 miles to hold germans in Romania.

Walter Josh

This is a discussion board so all worthy opinion is just that. Facts, however, are a different matter, several of which you should get acquainted with.
*Sir John Keegan may have been many things but liar is not one of them.
*The German Armies under Hindenburg and Ludendorff neither wanted nor needed reinforcements from the west. In fact, Tannenburg had ended several days earlier before the first soldier detrained. They were sent because Von Moltke (nephew) who was mentally unstable, panicked. A fact!
*The reason Paris escaped the Schlieffen Plan envelopment was because the westernmost German Army; Kluck's1st had slid east of Bulow's 2nd while marching southwest. As a result, a staff officer, Hoffman, sent forward by Von Moltke ordered a 100km retreat to realign and refit. That fateful decision was fatal costing Germany the war. The so called Battle of the Marne was pr malarkey. In fact, before the retreat, the French government was already in Bordeaux while the British were contemplating evacuation home.
Anyway be well.

Solar

Quote from: Walter Josh on December 01, 2015, 11:57:08 AM
This is a discussion board so all worthy opinion is just that. Facts, however, are a different matter, several of which you should get acquainted with.
*Sir John Keegan may have been many things but liar is not one of them.
*The German Armies under Hindenburg and Ludendorff neither wanted nor needed reinforcements from the west. In fact, Tannenburg had ended several days earlier before the first soldier detrained. They were sent because Von Moltke (nephew) who was mentally unstable, panicked. A fact!
*The reason Paris escaped the Schlieffen Plan envelopment was because the westernmost German Army; Kluck's1st had slid east of Bulow's 2nd while marching southwest. As a result, a staff officer, Hoffman, sent forward by Von Moltke ordered a 100km retreat to realign and refit. That fateful decision was fatal costing Germany the war. The so called Battle of the Marne was pr malarkey. In fact, before the retreat, the French government was already in Bordeaux while the British were contemplating evacuation home.
Anyway be well.
You have to remember, much of what the USSR taught was complete lies.
This from a country that claimed to have developed half of what Edison and Tesla had invented.
It wasn't till USSR collapsed, did their nation admit it had lied to it's people.

Is it any wonder what he learned, might just be a bit embellished? :wink:
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Walter Josh

Solar, fair enough. 
I began this as a response to Milos' initial questions, not to put down the Russian people.
What I nave asserted is in the public record, primarily from military writers such as John Keegan and Ian Senior.