1886 in Vietnam

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 59. Chapters: Tonkin campaign, Tonkin Expeditionary Corps, Pacification of Tonkin, Bac Le ambush, Bac Ninh campaign, Capture of Nam Dinh, Battle of Thuan An, Son Tay Campaign, Black Flag Army, Battle of C¿u Gi¿y, Tonkinese Rifles, Can Vuong, Battle of Phu Hoai, Capture of Hung Hoa, Battle of Palan, Tientsin Accord, Tonkin commemorative medal, Battle of Gia Cuc. Excerpt: The Tonkin Expeditionary Corps (French: ) was an important French military command based in northern Vietnam (Tonkin) from June 1883 to April 1886. The expeditionary corps fought the Tonkin campaign (1883-6) taking part in campaigns against the Black Flag Army and the Chinese Yunnan and Guangxi Armies during the Sino-French War (August 1884-April 1885) and the period of undeclared hostilities that preceded it (August 1883-June 1884), and in important operations against Vietnamese guerilla bands during the subsequent 'Pacification of Tonkin' (May 1885-February 1886). General Alexandre-Eugène Bouët (1833-87)The expeditionary corps was established in June 1883 in the wake of Henri Rivière's defeat and death at the Battle of Paper Bridge, to entrench the French protectorate in Tonkin. Its first commander was général de brigade Alexandre-Eugène Bouët (1833-87), the most senior marine infantry officer available in the French colony of Cochinchina. Bouët introduced a lightweight black pyjama summer uniform for French troops in Tonkin, and also ordered them to cover their white pith helmets with black cloth to make themselves less conspicuous. These were sensible innovations, which were appreciated by the common soldiers. Bouët's first task was to secure the French posts in Hanoi, Nam Dinh and Haiphong against Black Flag and Vietnamese attacks. In July 1883 he prepared to go over to the offensive, recruiting a force of 800 Yellow Flag soldiers to augment the French forces at his disposal. Pressured by the civil commissioner-general Jules Harmand to attack the Black Flags as soon as possible in their positions on the Day River, he took the field in August 1883, despite the heat and humidity of the Tonkin summer. Bouët twice attacked the entrenchments held by Liu Yongfu's Black Flag army, at the Battle of Phu Hoai (15 August 1883) and the Battle of Palan (1 September 1883). Both battles were disappointing for the French, and Bouët's command was also dogged by disagreements wi