On March 19, 1814, the Cossacks, coming from Roye, entered the town. The next day a large detachment of Cossacks and Prussian Hussars, infantry and artillery, under the Russian Baron de Geismar, took possession and exacted heavy requisitions in kind. The Cossacks bivouacked in the streets, with their horses in full harness, and cooked their food in the open. An attack by the combined garrisons of Amiens and Beauvais on March 24 drove out the Cossacks, but the latter returned on the 27th, with the intention of plundering and burning the town. In response to a petition from the chief citizens, Baron de Geismar consented not to burn the town, but allowed his soldiers to pillage it for one hour. On the 28th, the Cossacks withdrew towards Compiègne, to join the Allies in their march on Paris. [Illustration: MONTDIDIER, PHOTOGRAPHED FROM AN AEROPLANE. _On the left_: _The Three-Doms Stream, crossed by the road followed by the itinerary_ (_see p. 98_); _In the middle_: _Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville_; _On the right_: _Place Faidherbe and the Compiègne road._] [Illustration: The Station. Royaucourt. Morlière Wood. Mesnil-St. Georges. Wood, south of Fontaine. Cantigny. Courtemanche. Grivesnes. PANORAMIC VIEW TO THE WEST AND SOUTH OF MONTDIDIER SEEN FROM THE ESPLANADE DU PRIEURÉ.] After Easter, the Prussians held the garrison at Montdidier and in 1815 a Prussian garrison occupied the town for three months. On October 15, 1870, the Prussians again appeared before Montdidier, held only by a few regular troops and some National Guards. After a short bombardment, which caused the death of several citizens, the Prussians entered the town. [Illustration: CHAPEL BUILT BY THE SOLDIERS IN THE RUINS OF MONTDIDIER.] [Illustration: SAVING THE TOWN RECORDS OF MONTDIDIER.] [Illustration: THE ROADS TO BE FOLLOWED ARE SHOWN BY THICK LINES.] MONTDIDIER IN 1918. Of Montdidier, hardly anything remains but ruins, caused by the terrible battles fought around the town in March-August 1918. From the end of Rue du Collège, there is a fine view of the whole battlefield: Mesnil-St-Georges and Fontaine-sous-Montdidier _to the west_; Courtemanche and Framicourt _to the north-west_; Gratibus, Pierrepont and Contoire _to the north_, and Ayencourt and Monchel _to the south_. The German offensive--March 27. On March 27, the German hordes were held on the French right, but overran the plain on the left, where the lack of natural defences made resistance more difficult. The front-line there was very thin, and the Germans captured Cessier and Tilloloy.