Catherine the Great Empress of Russia SIGNED Letter Moves Troops in Turkish War
Catherine The Great signed Letter shifting troops from the Turkish War Front. Description: CATHERINE THE GREAT SHIFTS TROOPS FROM THE TURKISH WAR FRONT TO POSITIONS WHERE THEY COULD BEGIN THE BATTLE FOR THE ANNEXATION OF MORE OF POLAND. IN THIS EXCELLENT CONTENT LETTER CATHERINE ORDERS THE SPECIFIC DEPLOYMENT OF EACH OF THE UNITS IN THE ARMY. CATHERINE II (THE GREAT). Empress of Russia (ruled from 1762-1796). Letter signed as Empress, in Russian, 7"x8.5". 4 pages small 4to, St. Petersburg, March 14, 1792, to Mikhailo Vasilievich, marked "Confidential". Fine.
Catherine writes: "In the edict given to you on January 27, we instructed you to have the troops under your command in such a state that they will be ready for immediate action at our order. In view of circumstances and for the sake of our Empire we are providing you in advance with instuctions on which units to deploy and where. Therefore, observing the positive effect of the Peace Agreement on withdrawal of our Army and the return of land to the Ottoman Porte, we are enclosing a schedule developed in accordance with the position stated in your report of January 15 and order you to withdraw the troops stationed in Moldavia and move them to the places, mentioned below, organize the marches without any publicity in such a way that the troops will be sure to reach the appointed positions on May 1.
Namely: First Unit is to be deployed opposite Mogilev on the Dniester River, Second Unit -- Opposite Soroka on the same river. Taking measures well in advance in the most secretive way, get across the river quickly in a place where the Poles do not expect you. Likewise, by the same time, as you commanded, The Third Unit stationed at Olviopol in the Yekaterinoslav Region and the Fourth Unit now stationed in the suburbs of Kiev at Vasilkovo are to be assembled. We will also divide into units: the Fifth will return to the newly gained territories, and the Sixth will return to the Yekaterinoslav region crossing those territories. All the remaining Army units not mentioned in the schedule are to join the last two units and are to return to our territory in order to totally clear the lands remaining under Turkish rule of our troops by the time agreed in the treaty. We appreciate your opinion stated in the report of February 24 about the troops stationed in Tauride: therefore, we leave one of the units appointed by you in the Tauride region to guard in boundaries. Considering the other unit excessive, we order the Chairman of the Military Collegium General Count Saltykov to send it at his discretion to where there is a need for it for the sake of military service.
We are certain that you will thoroughly execute everything entrusted to you with characteristic circumspection to our satisfaction until you receive further instructions on this issue.
You remain in our good graces. Catherine"
Russia's second long war with the Turks resulted in the gaining of some land in eastern Europe by the Treaty of Jassay, and Catherine now wanted to embark on a war which would gain more of Poland for Russia. This war began later this year and resulted in the annexation of more of Poland the following year.
