On the morning of September 24, 1863, the citizens of the City of New York woke up to see something in the city's harbor that had never been seen there before. Anchored in the great harbor was a fleet of Imperial Russian war ships. America was at war. Not with Russia, but with itself. It was a dark period for the young nation. The Union of the North had just suffered a devastating, and demoralizing defeat at Chickamauga. The battle was the worst Union defeat in the entire war, and ranked second-highest in number of casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg. The increasing prospect of an ultimate Confederate victory in the war, and the real possibility of an imminent attack from Britain and France in support of the southern rebellion left America vulnerable, and without allies. President Lincoln and his young nation were alone, and surrounded by enemies. America had one friend...
