This work is only a fragment of a much larger group which comprised a large Crucifix, and on either side of the Virgin, St. Longin, Mary Magdalene and four angels, each holding a chalice to catch the Saviour’s blood. The work was in painted walnut, as had been the custom from the Middle Ages, but the worm-eaten wood gradually crumbled away. In 1720 the Benedictines managed to save the crucifix and the group of “The Swoon.” The crucifix is supposed to have been burnt during the Revolution (1792). Now all that remains is a moulding of Christ’s head. [Illustration: “CAMP-DES-ROMAINS” FORT] _Leaving the Church, skirt the front of the adjoining Collège, and pass under the arch of the Palais-de-Justice, thus reaching the_ =Place des Moines.= In this square is the fine façade of the old abbey, restored in the 17th and 18th centuries, the buildings of which have been transformed into the Hôtel de la Division, Palais-de-Justice and prison. Above the latter is the famous monastic library containing 13,000 volumes and valuable manuscripts. _Besides the Hôtel de la Division is the_ chevet of St. Michel Church, _looking on to the square of that name. By turning to the left in the latter, the tourist comes back to the Place du Collège, which cross to take the Commercy road (N. 64)._ _On leaving St. Mihiel, N. 64 climbs up a steep slope. A mile from the town, on the left, is a_ concrete blockhouse _at the corner of the Commercy road and that leading to_ Fort Camp-des-Romains. _Take the latter to the fort._ Fort of the Camp-des-Romains This is one of the two forts which protect St. Mihiel. Standing on the end of a narrow peninsula formed by a loop in the Meuse, it dominates the town from a height of 450 feet above the valley. (The hill itself is 1,200 feet high.) It owes its name to the remains of Roman entrenchments, still existing when the fort was built. When the German Army of Metz occupied St. Mihiel on September 24, 1914, and crossed the Meuse, the Fort of the Camp-des-Romains remained isolated, without troops in the plain to defend it, and absolutely dependent on its own guns. The Germans left it alone for the time being, confident of being able to take it whenever they wished. The 16th Corps hastened to the rescue, but stopped in front of St. Mihiel. The Germans finally dug themselves in and were able, from a position near the town, to begin the bombardment of the fort with the aid of Austrian heavy guns. [Illustration: POST OF CARRIER PIGEONS AT FORT CAMP-DES-ROMAINS] The guns were very quickly placed in position, and in a few days they silenced those of the French fort, the turrets and bastions of which were destroyed. In the end the heroic garrison were smoked out by the enemy, who had reached the base of the fort. When the surviving defenders, half suffocated, were able to leave the ruins, the Germans presented arms as a tribute of admiration for their valour, and permitted the captured officers to retain their swords.