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The Imperiia Project: a spatial history of the Russian Empire

Carte Geographique representant Le Theatre De La Guerre Entre Les Russes, Les Turcs, Et Les Polonois Confédérés

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Ottoman forces abandon a plague-ridden fortress The Ottoman army that had made its way first across the Danube and then across the Dniester rivers suffered primarily from poor provisioning, with its soldiers forced to eat "bread baked from mouldy flour." Add to that an early winter, an early and wet spring, polluted water sources, and it is no wonder that contagion of various kinds spread rapidly. [101-102]

Facing alarming disease rates and low supplies, Ottoman forces decamp from the fortress of Khotin (see the map below) rather than face additional casualties... and siege by Russia's First Army.
Russian army invades Moldavia With the Ottoman army retreating south of the Danube River, the Russian army is able to move quickly across Moldavia and Wallachia (the Danubian Principalities). But bad weather and poor supply lines force General Rumiantsev to call an early end to the campaign season.
"The present rainy, severe, and most unbearable weather not only continues unceasingly [...] but even covered the earth with snow today, accompanied by such a frost that, according to the declaration of local inhabitants, happens extremely rarely here at the present not very late autumn season." [page 59]
Plague makes it way into Kiev
July to October 1770
Wagons could make the trip from Khotin to Kiev in 4 weeks, and traffic was heavy due to the spring campaign. Plague spread along the routes connecting southern cities - Lerche would document the cases as he traveled in the wake.

The local apothecary notices cases of putrid fever in August. [111]
Carte Geographique representant Le Theatre De La Guerre Entre Les Russes, Les Turcs, Et Les Polonois Confédérés Carte Geographique representant Le Théatre De La Guerre Entre Les Russes, Les Turcs, Et Les Polonois Confédérés : C'est à dire: Les Provinces D'Ukraine, De Nouvelle Servie, De Moldavie, Valachie, Krimée, Le Gouvernement De Woronez Et D'Astracan, comme aussi la Tartarie de Kuban

Map showing the theater of war between the Russians, Turks, and Poles: that is, the provinces of Ukraine, New Serbia, Moldavia, Wallachia, Crimea, Voronezh, and Astrakhan, as well as Kuban Tatary

Creator: Tobias Conrad Lotter (1717-1777)
Augsbourg, 1769
Repository: Harvard Map Collection, Krawciw Collection
Link to the Harvard Library Catalog entry
Explore a high-resolution version of the map here, courtesy of Harvard Map Collection:
General Rumiantsev calls for a cordon on the Dniester River The goal? To protect Khotin with its massive grain stores.

Perhaps as an afterthought, Rumiantsev calls for a cordon along the Dnieper River at Kiev, as well, in hopes of preventing penetration into Russian territory.