Siege of Tuyen Quang

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Siege of Tuyen-Quan
Part of the Sino-French War
Date 23 November 1884 – 28 February 1885 Location Tuyen-Quan, Indochina Result French victory
Belligerents
France	China
Commanders
Major Dominé
Strength
1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 611	20,000
Casualties and losses
32	48 KIA 216 WIA

v • d • e Sino-French War Foochow – Shipu - Zenhai Tuyen Quang – Zhennan Pass

The Siege of Tuyen-Quan pronunciation (help·info) was a battle between the French Foreign Legion and forces of the Empire of China at the Tuyen-uan fortification in Vietnam. Two companies of the First Battalion of the 2nd Foreign Regiment of the French Foreign Legion, commanded by Major Dominé of the Troupes de Marine, were besieged by forces of the Empire of China from 23 November 1884 to 28 February 1885.

[edit] Siege

During the siege, the French order of battle was as follows: Two infantry companies of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment; one company of Tonkinese Rifles (native riflemen commanded by French officers), an artillery section, an engineer squad, three medics, and the crew of the river gunship "Mitrailleuse." Their initial strength was 611 men.

On their side, Chinese forces constituted about 20,000 men, many of whom were Black Flags.

The defensive situation was rather weak: the fortress was surrounded by hills, the brush was very close to the walls, and the arrival of reinforcements could only occur after long delay. The Sino-Vaubanian-style fortress was square, 300 meters per side, with 3-meter high ramparts. In the center of the citadel, a 70-meter high mamelon permitted effective plunging fire by the French.

Major Dominé ordered reconnaissance, repair and reinforcement of the wall, cleaning and enlarging of the ditch, the clearing of vegetation to improve observation and fields of fire, the construction of obstacles, and finally the establishment of several artillery pieces.

[edit] End

At the end of the siege 48 men were dead and 216 wounded; eight later died of their wounds. Among these losses were 32 Legionnaires. The arrival of a column of reinforcements, the First Brigade of General Giovanninelli, ended the siege of Tuyen-Quan and put Chinese forces into flight.

The defense of Tuyen-Quan became the Legion's most famous Indochinese exploits, obtaining a place in the first verse of the famous "Sausage Song" (Le Boudin) marching cadence:^[1]

"Au Tonkin, la Légion immortelle
A Tuyen Quang illustra notre drapeau."

(In Tonkin, the immortal Legion covered our flag with glory at Tuyen-Quan)

[edit] References

1. ^ The 1st REP officers sing Le Boudin at Nogent after the Generals Putsch