Moscow

At the beginning of the 19th century, Russian Cossacks camped on the Dries in Ledeberg and later on Ter Heide in Gentbrugge. The latter place owes its current name to this: "Moscow". The Cossacks fought against Napoleon, were here as "liberators", but made a mess of it by behaving like beasts and terrorizing the population. Their leader, Colonel Bygaloff, nicknamed "Peetje Kozak", was an 80-year-old saber sharpener and glutton. In the neighborhood, the name Peetje Kozak is still a term used.

The people of Ghent initially welcomed the liberators with open arms, glad to be rid of the French yoke. But the Cossacks behaved like savages. The city librarian put it as follows: "...this did not prevent them from constantly bothering the farmers in the parish of Ledebergh (...) and taking everything that pleased them." "Cattle were taken from pastures and barns, slaughtered and cut into quarters, and roasted whole. Large kettles of potatoes drowned in melted butter and bacon disappeared into their never-satisfied stomachs. During and after meals, they drank whole buckets of gin as if it were water."

Robbery and rape were common occurrences here at that time.

Dromos