Colloquially the Steigerkopf has also been referred to as the Schänzel (little rampart) since about 4,500 Prussian soldiers built a sconce there in summer 1794. The earthworks were built to delay the 7,000 French Revolutionary troops who had been dispatched to conquer the German territories west of the Rhine. The French were victorious, however, following the decisive and bloody Battle of Trippstadt on 12 and 13 Jul 1794, after a local hunter from the nearby village of Dernbach had guided them into the rear of the Prussian position on the second day. The Prussian commander, General Theodor Philipp von Pfau (1727-1794), was taken prisoner after being severely wounded and died the same day.