It was retaken by the Americans on September 26-27, 1918, after desperate fighting with the German 37th Division, but only when it had been surrounded, and Septsarges, Nantillois and Ivoiry had fallen. [Illustration: MONTFAUCON. FRANCO-AMERICAN OBSERVATION-POST IN THE RUINS, NEAR THE CHURCH] The site of Montfaucon is an unusual and striking one; unfortunately, the town was almost entirely ruined. _At the junction of the road from Malancourt, turn to the left, passing shortly afterwards in front of_ a concrete observation-post (_photo, p. 79_). _Keep along the principal street as far as the fork, where take the uphill street on the right, turning immediately again to the right, and coming out at the top of the ridge near the ruins of the church._ Several observation-posts may be visited, including one inside the church (_photo below_). [Illustration: MONTFAUCON. RUINS OF THE CHURCH. GERMAN OBSERVATION-POST ON THE LEFT] The old Collegiate Church was surrounded by 17th century houses, built on the site of the old cloister, and inhabited by the canons. Below this part of the town several underground tunnels, since walled-up, were made. The porch and the vestibule of the church dated from the 14th century, the other parts were rebuilt or restored in 1597 and 1781. In the steeple a stone staircase of eighty steps led to the belfry, whence wooden stairs ascended to a platform in the spire, in which six openings gave a far-reaching view over the surrounding country. This platform, 170 feet above the base of the church, had a total altitude of about 1,240 feet. In the direction of Verdun the forts of Marre and Dugny could be seen, and, still further away (about 25 miles), the heights which dominate Souilly. To the south-west lie the plains of St. Menehould, and on the west the plain and plateaux of Champagne. In the same direction, in clear weather, the Fort of Berru, near Rheims, is visible. The panorama further embraces the following: _on the north-east_, the whole of the region of Grandpré; _on the north_, Carignan and Montmédy; _on the east_, the heights of the Meuse, seven miles away, shut in the horizon, hiding Damvillers and the Woëvre. From the top of the ridge may be seen: _on the south_, the 1916 battlefield of Verdun; _on the north_, the terrain of the offensive of September 26, 1918. Between the Meuse and the Aire, from Brieulles-sur-Meuse to Grandpré, the line of villages, woods and hills, which, after being fortified, formed the formidable German position known as the “Kriemhildestellung,” should be noticed. Certain points in this line were only carried in October, and even at the beginning of November, 1918. Several of them, like Hill 299 to the north-east of Cunel and north-west of Brieulles, were taken, lost and retaken several times by the Americans.