Russian fleet in New York harbor
Ships from the Russian fleet had been anchored in New York harbor for over a week (and although the ships enjoyed visitors, a “furore” was created when Mrs. Lincoln prematurely visited one of the ships). 150 years ago today a grand celebration was held in New York City, including a reception aboard the Russian flagship, receptions in New York, and a grand parade.
From The New-York Times October 2 1863:
OUR RUSSIAN GUESTS.; Their Magnificent Reception Yesterday. Imposing Popular Ovation and Brilliant Military Pageant. The Cross of St. Andrew and the Stars and Stripes Blending Amicably. Formal Greeting by Mayor Opdyke, and Grand Review in the Park. A Procession, Presentation and Royal Salutes. THE STRANGERS GREATLY DELIGHTED.
Yesterday was a memorable one in the history of the City, as having been set apart for the formal reception of the Russian Admiral LISOVSKY and the Officers of his Fleet, and as being the occasion of welcome exceeding in warmth and earnestness any that busy and big-hearted New-York has extended. The day was beautiful, and the feeling of the people hospitable and exuberant. There was evidently a desire among all to extend to out distinguished guests an unmistakably hearty and cordial welcome. The desire was more than fulfilled, for, from the lancing of the Officers until their departure from the City Hall, the ovation was one of the most brilliant, hearty and gratifying character. Of course, it was not to the individuals so much as to the Sovereign and People of the great empire they represented, whose consistent and sincere friendship has been appreciated by the public heart. There was l[e]ss of the noisy, boisterous welcome and enthusiasm that has characterized many receptions, but there was much more of the really sincere expression of feelings, which, while somewhat less demonstrative, is [???] as effective [???]. …
similar insurrection problems
ROYAL SALUTE.
The Bay of New-York has witnessed a great many salutes in times past, but never until yesterday did it comprehend the meaning of a Russian royal salute. It was a roaring, thundering, earthshaking demonstration, emblematic of the outspoken voice of Imperial Russia. After the first gun, those of the Committee who were inclined to smile at the Admiral’s apprehensions of accident from the salute felt the propriety of his caution. … [parade, receptions, and warm comments by New Yorkers and Russians]
THE PERPLEXED PIRATES.
Louis NAPOLEON (a Corsair). “Veil, Meestare Jonnibull! vat you see zat time you peep round ze cornare fro your beeg glass?”
JOHN BULL (Another). “I see a werry suspicious looking cove a sittin’ in the New York ‘arbor, with arf-a-dozen big Rooshian blood-hounds about him.”
LOUIS NAPOLEON. “Hein?”
JOHN BULL. “Humph!’
There were many similar instances of mutual good will existing between our people and these sons of a empire, now overshadowing both Europe and the East, and no longer very distant from us, since we have planted our standards so far northward in the direction of Behring’s Straits. The flag to-day seen in our harbor floating above those castles of the deep that fortify the mandates of the Czar, is growing as familiar to the eyes of our brethren on the Pacific as the standards of France and England have been to us on the Atlantic, and the [???]gs it will bring to them and us may take its keynote for a generation to come from the echoes of this grand reception of the Muscovite squadron in the Bay of New-York! …
You can read an overview of the reasons and effects of the Russian fleet’s visit to New York and San Francisco at Loyola University New Orleans. Apparently the visit helped Union morale as the positive feelings after Gettysburg and Vicksburg began to wane and French and British continued a policy of neutrality: “Oliver Wendell Holmes, referring to Alexander sending the Russian fleet to America, said he was ‘our friend when the world was our foe.'”
The October 17, 1863 issue of Harper’s Weekly (at Son of the South) provided a lot of coverage of the Russian visit. All of the images are from that newspaper except for the cartoon of Abe and Ales from the October 24, 1863 issue of Punch
THE GRAND PROCESSION OF OUR RUSSIAN VISITORS THROUGH BROADWAY, UNDER ESCORT OF THE MILITIA AND POLICE.
And I wanted to mention that according to Wikipedia New York City’s first ticker tape parade occurred as part of “a spontaneous celebration held on October 28, 1886 during the dedication of the Statue of Liberty”
