Contrary to the opinion of many, who believed he would retire on Châlons in order more easily to effect a junction with Kellermann, Dumouriez decided not to abandon the Sainte-Menehould position. Leaving Dillon’s advance guard at Chalade, in Les Islettes, and in the south of the Argonne, he established himself in front of Sainte-Menehould, on the plateau where Maffrecourt, Chaudefontaine, and Braux-Sainte-Cohière stand. Thus, while no longer covering the Paris road, he threatened the rear of the Allies.
Brunswick, who had left Grandpré and was already on the Châlons road, was forced to stop and face Dumouriez. Fearing that Dumouriez, by retreating, would once more escape, the King of Prussia, acting hastily and in opposition to the plans of Brunswick, ordered the march which brought his army to Valmy. On September 20, his army established itself opposite Valmy, five miles west of St. Menehould, on the Lune plateau which crosses the Sainte-Menehould-Châlons road through Auve.
THE BATTLE OF VALMY (1792)
The Lune Inn, which then stood by the side of the road near the Lune crossroads, formed by the junction of the Somme-Bionne and Gizeaucourt roads, was pulled down about 1854 and the materials used for building one of the Maigneux farms.
Thanks to the clever dispositions of Dumouriez, who directed General Stengel to occupy Mont-Yvon (in order to cover Valmy on the right), and General Chazot to march on the Lune heights (to protect Kellermann’s left), the latter was able to withstand the enemy assault.
The Prussians decided to attack Valmy, and towards noon their infantry crossed the valley which lies between the two armies. But the French, drawn up on the ridge between Moulin and Valmy, under the command of Kellermann, hurled themselves on the Prussians and drove them back amidst cries of “Vive la Nation.” Brunswick, disconcerted, stopped the attack. Kellermann pressed on, while General Stengel held the Austrians on the right. About 4 o’clock, General Beurnonville came up with reinforcements, and the battle was won.