commandant turned down the demand as before, and the Germans returned to Ménil-la-Tour in the afternoon. Coup de Main General of the Infantry Gustav von Alvensleben, commander of IV Corps, encouraged by Toul's weak resistance to these advance groups, decided on the early morning of 16 August to reconnoiter the fort and seize it by means of a coup de main. French inhabitants told the Germans that Toul had only 1,000 or 1,200 Garde Mobile as garrison. IV Corps' advance guard, consisting of the reinforced 14th Infantry Brigade, which included the 27th and 93rd Infantry Regiments, the 7th Dragoons, the 1st heavy and 2nd light batteries, two pioneer companies and the light bridge train and which was commanded by General von Zychlinski, received Alvensleben's order and deployed at Francheville at 1100, where the 2nd heavy battery had also been concentrated. The two heavy batteries advanced on the fort and opened fire at the ramparts at 1,500 meters, the first battery from the east and the second from Mont St. Michel to the north. Two guns from the light battery augmented the St. Michel position, with the remaining four guns of the battery in reserve. Dismounted dragoons and 2nd Battalion, 93rd Regiment escorted the batteries. The bombardment was ineffective and the French replied with six guns well-concealed by trees. Alvensleben arrived in person and ordered the town to bombardment to induce a surrender. At 1245, Zychlinski led the infantry column on an assault at the fortress. The 3rd pioneer company led the attack to reconnoiter the ditches. Skirmishers would follow and surround the fort, the ditch would be passed and an entrance gained through the north gate of the fortress. The pioneers reached the north side of the fortress under long-range rifle fire. The Germans found the found the northern glacis unfavorable to an assault and began to search for an eastern passage. After a gaining a position on the eastern side, they opened fire on the garrison. At 1300, the 93rd Regiment's fusilier battalion advanced in skirmishing order against the northern face and reached the main ditch, opening fire on the garrison deployed at the north gate ravelin. The 2nd Battalion of the 93rd Regiment advanced against the north-western side and engaged in a firefight in a skirmish line against the garrison. The drawbridge had been raised and no suitable location for an assault was found. The 2nd Battalion, 27th