Buzancy was formerly a fortified town. In 1650, Turenne, after his
defeat at Somme-Py, retreated on Vouziers and thence to Buzancy. On
September 12, 1792, the town was occupied by the Austrian troops under
Clerfayt, on their march to Croix-aux-Bois. In October, after Valmy, the
rearguard of the retreating army was attacked by Valence near Buzancy,
the Republicans capturing a standard of the 6th Division of the
Lifeguards from the Emigrés. This standard was taken to Dumouriez’s
headquarters and hung in the window of the Vouziers Château. Offered
some days later to the Convention, the latter decided that this symbol
of rebellion should be burned by the public executioner.
On August 27, 1870, a reconnoitring party of two squadrons of the 12th
Chasseurs of the French 5th (Active) Corps, having passed through the
town, was climbing the opposite hill when they were attacked by Saxon
Dragoons debouching from La Folie Wood. The Saxons, greatly superior in
numbers, forced back the French to the entrance of the village; but a
third squadron coming to the rescue, the French attacked, and after a
sharp fight, lasting half an hour, forced the Saxon Dragoons to retreat
up Sivry Hill. Pursued by the French, the latter were finally stopped by
the sudden unmasking of enemy batteries.
From 1914 to 1918 Buzancy was occupied by the Germans who, at the end of
October, 1918, hotly defended its approaches against the American First
Army. The village was, however, taken and passed on November 2.
Several houses in the Rue Charles Coffin were burned down. Most of the
church is late 13th century.
_Take Rue du Château on the left of the Place Chanzy._
The Château de la Cour is supposed to have been built on the site of a
house occupied by St. Remi, Archbishop of Rheims. Two very large
sculptured lions, presented by Louis XV. to King Stanislas and brought
from the Château of Lunéville, ornament the entrance. Of the 17th-18th
century château, only the outbuildings are left.
[Illustration: BUZANCY. I.C. 12 AT ENTRANCE TO VILLAGE
_The Itinerary follows Rue du Gen. Chanzy opposite._]
The Mosque of Mahommed is a fragment of a very old square building.
According to tradition it was built by a Noble Jean d’Anglure, a
crusader who, captured by the Mohammedans, regained his liberty by
promising to build a mosque. It seems more probable that this building
is the remains of a lodge attached to the Château de la Cour.
[Illustration: CHAMPIGNEULLE. RUINED MILL NEAR RIVER AGRON, AT END OF
VILLAGE]
[Illustration: CHAMPIGNEULLE VILLAGE AND CHURCH, SEEN FROM I.C. 20,
BEFORE ENTERING THE VILLAGE]
_Take I.C. 6, a continuation of the Rue du Château, as far as_
=Thénorgues= (_3 km. 200 from Buzancy_).
_Before entering Thénorgues_, a German burial ground _is seen on the
right in the communal cemetery_. _In front of the church take I.C. 20 on
the left, which, 2 km. 700 further on, reaches_ =Verpel.= _Beyond the
church of Verpel turn to the left, and immediately afterwards to the
right. Outside the village, the I.C. 20 divides; keep straight on._
Picturesque run down into the Agron Valley.
_Cross the Agron near a mill, reaching_ =Champigneulle=, which stands on a
hill, _4 km. 200 from Verpel_. Numerous houses are in ruins. The road
passes in front of the very curious church, the nave of which has fallen
in (_photo below_). _On leaving the village, the road again descends
into the valley, recrosses the Agron, then rises on the left up_ =Hill
182=, on which stands the village of =St. Juvin= (_2 km. from
Champigneulle_). _At the entrance to the latter there is a_ large German
cemetery.
[Illustration: CHAMPIGNEULLE CHURCH, SOUTH FRONT]