After winning major victories in Europe, Putin decided to make his first attack on U.S. soil in spite of the formation of the Alliance. He planned to capture New Orleans and use the Mississippi River as a way of dividing the United States. If he succeeded, the United States would fall fairly quickly. However, he was not successful and engaged in a 2 week long naval battle with the U.S. which he lost, because he did not plan on being intercepted. This defeat marked a bit of a turning point in the war because the Alliance began to make progress in the war after this battle. The death toll was about 8,000 Russians and 1,200 Americans.