French forces under Admiral de Genonilly had occupied Saigon in Indo-China during 1859 but Vietnamese resistance continued to harass the occupation and set up a virtual blockade on the port city. French and Spanish land and naval units began military operations on February 19, 1861. Six days later, through a series of assaults on insurgent fortifications in heavy fighting that cost the French and Spanish three hundred men killed and wounded, all pressure on Saigon was relieved. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
"The Subjugation of Cochin-China," in William Harrison Ainsworth, ed., New Monthly Magazine, Volume 131 (London: Chapman and Hall, 1864), 131-133.