lock near the suburb of St. Mansuy. A German attempt to drain the ditch of the fortress by diverting the Vauban canal's water to the Moselle succeeded only partially. Franc-tireur French franc-tireur bands harassed the lines of communications of the German siege forces surrounding Paris. The French garrison at Toul was so weak that the Germans could send the 33rd Infantry Brigade, the 11th Lancers and three batteries to Châlons on 19 September to secure the lines of communications alongside other German forces. Final bombardment and capitulation The Prussian siege artillery, with the help of five infantry companies, constructed emplacements for its pieces on the evening of 22 September. To cover the preparations, a rifle company occupied St. Evre on the night of 21–22 September and heavy guns and three field batteries bombarded the town throughout the day from Mont St. Michel. At 0530 on 23 September, 11 siege batteries with 62 guns and howitzers opened fire, while Frederick Francis watched the proceeding from the Côte Barine. The German firepower burned down French barracks' and magazines near the fortifications. After an initially lackluster response, the French artillery and infantry set on fire the suburbs of St. Evre and St. Mansuy, but otherwise accomplished little. At 1530 the French raised the white flag over the cathedral. Major Huck sent a letter to the Germans, declaring his readiness to surrender the fort. The garrison was taken prisoner of war and sent to a bivouac on the Choloy road and the German 3rd Battalion, 90th Regiment and two rifle companies occupied the town in the evening. The Grand Duke entered the next morning at the head of the troops. Aftermath The 2nd Battalion, 90th Regiment, remained as garrison while the Prussian siege artillery was sent to bombard Soissons. The French guns captured at Marsal and Toul were now available for operations against Verdun. The German railway terminus was pushed to the west by the fall of Toul and by the German victory at the Siege of Strasbourg on 28 September. The Germans expended 5,034 artillery shells, shrapnel and bombs during the siege on 16 and 23 August and from 10 to 23 September. Casualties The French lost 1 officer and 25 men killed, 8 officers and 80 men wounded, 109 officers and 2,240 men captured as well as 8 civilians killed and 20 wounded. Three standards of the 3rd dragoons and the eagle