CAPTURE OF MONTFAUCON ON SEPTEMBER 27
MONTFAUCON was in the sector of the 79th Division of the 5th Corps. The town was situated on a hill
which rose 342 meters above sea-level; this was thirty meters higher than any other eminence between
the Meuse and the Argonne on either the Allied or the German side of the old battle line. From this
eminence in a concrete observation post built in a house which later served as the P. C. of the 3d
Division, the German Crown Prince is said to have witnessed the Verdun battle.
The town of Montfaucon was located on the axial road leading to the front; it was over this road
that all of the traffic of the 90th Division passed, and it was therefore familiar to every driver in the
division. This formidable height was taken by the 79th Division, after a spectacular attack, by noon of
September 27.
After the deep advance on September 26, the progress of the 1st Army slowed down on the
succeeding days. The German command rushed up three of their best divisions. The American infantry
was also handicapped on the second day by the lack of artillery, which had not been able to cross No
Man’s Land, despite the fact that the 4th Engineers had built a complete road from Esnes to Malancourt
by using 40,000 sandbags. The problem of supplying the army as it advanced over this desolate area
was also a very serious proposition, as the officers and men of the 315th Supply Train, who later hauled
food and ammunition over this ground, can readily appreciate.
The town of Montfaucon, situated on the highest point of the region, was one of the best observation posts
on the Western front. In the Chateau on the left was an exceedingly valuable telescope
used by the Crown Prince during the Verdun operations.
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