The surprising and little-known story of how the United States and Russia forged an extraordinary friendship during the Civil War.

In 1863, as the Civil War raged, Russian warships suddenly appeared in New York and San Francisco, sparking celebrations across the North and raising hopes that Russia might support the United States should Britain and France recognize the Confederacy.

In When the Russians Came, Vladimir Alexandrov tells the full story of how Russia's own tensions with Britain and France in Europe unexpectedly converged with American fears during the Civil War. He expertly traces the episode from high diplomacy to the streets, harbors, and ballrooms where Russians and Americans encountered one another in ways that were often surprising, emotional, and deeply human.

Enthusiasm in the North was heightened by admiration for Russia's recent emancipation of the serfs, a stark contrast to the bloody struggle over slavery. Lincoln welcomed the Russian officers in Washington, New York staged extraordinary spectacles in their honor, and in San Francisco the visiting squadron won lasting gratitude for its assistance during a period of crisis. The Russian presence in American waters was also watched closely abroad and may have helped caution Britain against further meddling in the war.

Richly researched and vividly told, When the Russians Came recovers a remarkable and largely forgotten chapter of American history—a moment when international politics, wartime anxiety, and human connection inaugurated a period of friendship between the United States and Russia.