Larga

a left-bank tributary of the Prut River.

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–74, a battle was fought near the Larga on July 7 (18), 1770. The Russian First Army commanded by General-in-chief P. A. Rumiantsev (38,000 men, 115 guns) engaged the troops of the Crimean khan, Kaplan-Girei (65,000 Tatar cavalry and 15,000 Turkish infantry). Leaving a small covering detachment facing the enemy, Rumiantsev concentrated his main forces on his left flank under cover of darkness. At daybreak he suddenly attacked after forming his troops into squares with artillery. After an eight-hour battle, the enemy withdrew in disorder to the south, having lost more than 1,000 men killed and all their artillery (33 guns). This defeat of the advance Turkish troops at Larga created the preconditions for the destruction of their main forces at Kagul.