 The Fort de Plappeville, placed under the command of Colonel Vogel of the artillery, as well as Fort du Mont Saint Quentin, commanded by Colonel von Stossel, provided mutual artillery support and impeded the American advance along the valley of the Moselle to the west of Metz.During the Battle of Metz the buried fortifications resisted American artillery attack well, particularly attacks with incendiary weapons.The forts fell after a series of violent assaults.