Châtillon formed the advanced position of the defences of Esternay. The troops of the First Division had the honour of being chosen to attack, and fierce was the fighting in the burning streets of the village. The 84th Infantry, many of whose officers and men are buried in the churchyard, gave a brilliant example of stubborn courage. On the evening of the 6th, Châtillon was in the hands of the French, who were, however, for that day unable to advance further towards Esternay, being held up by the defence works on N. 34 (_see panorama on p. 152_). [Illustration: CHÂTILLON CHURCH] _Return to the main road from Esternay to Sézanne_ (N. 34), stopping at the last houses of Châtillon, the spot from whence the above photograph was taken. The position which the French troops in possession of Châtillon had to carry was formed by the plateau seen on the horizon, along which passes D. 8 at the foot of Esternay castle. [Illustration: Esternay Castle PANORAMA OF THE ESTERNAY POSITIONS] This frontal attack presented many difficulties, for even if the French arrived as far as the railway line which runs along the bottom of the valley, and were able to take cover under the embankment, they would be mown down when they attempted to scale the bare slopes. The woods which appear on the right in the above view afforded shelter to the troops up to the main road, but when they attempted to advance into the open they were met by a murderous fire. Being unable to force the frontal defences, the commandant of the First Corps ordered the Second Division to make a considerable detour to the east, under cover of the woods, in order to take the positions on Esternay Plateau in the flank. On the evening of the 6th, a first attack failed, but next morning the Second Division carried the position which covered the German flank, and combining its efforts with those of the First Division on the front, entered Esternay about 10 o'clock in the morning. [Illustration: Châtillon Church Spot from whence the above panorama was taken Railway line PANORAMA OF THE CHÂTILLON POSITIONS] _Once more on the_ N. 34, _turn to the right_. The slope served as a protection for the Germans, who dug many individual shelters there. One of these may be seen in the foreground of the preceding photograph. We begin to realise the difficulties which the French had to surmount when we remember that after the battle, on the front of a single battalion, 11 officers and 4 non-commissioned officers lay dead, killed while leading their men. [Illustration: COMMON GRAVE AT ESTERNAY]