Lạng Sơn campaign

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The Lạng Sơn campaign (3–13 February 1885) was a major French push in northern Vietnam during the Sino-French War. The French expeditionary corps, led by General Louis Brière de l'Isle, aimed to defeat the Guangxi Army of China and capture the strategic town of Lạng Sơn.

Background and plan
- French political and military leaders debated how to behave in Tonkin. In January 1885, General Jules Lewal became army minister and ordered the capture of Lạng Sơn as soon as possible.
- About 7,200 French troops and 4,500 coolies gathered at Chu, near the Luc Nam River. The force was organized into two brigades: Giovanninelli’s 1st Brigade and De Négrier’s 2nd Brigade, with French line infantry, foreign regiments, Tonkinese riflemen, and artillery.
- The march would be grueling: the column had to carry provisions and equipment through difficult terrain and endure cold February nights.

Key battles and actions
- 2–4 February: The march began with little resistance, and the French captured a Chinese rice dump at Cao Nhiat to ease supply problems. On 4 February, the French fought at Tay Hoa. The battle was won by De Négrier’s 2nd Brigade, but it caused heavy French casualties (about 18 dead, 101 wounded). Lieutenant-Colonel Herbinger’s leadership was later criticized for delaying the attack on the Great Fort.
- 5–6 February: The main assaults on Dong Song, the Chinese entrenched camp near Ha Hoa, were successful. The French left and right brigades overran several fortifications, killed garrisons, and seized the position. French losses were relatively light in these actions (about 4 dead, 18 wounded on 5 February; 3 dead, 41 wounded on 6 February).
- 9 February: The Chinese attempted a diversion at Deo Quao to slow the French advance, but the French held their positions.
- 11 February: At Pho Vy, French troops cleared the Chinese from the village with minimal casualties (about 1 dead, 23 wounded), though a Chinese counterattack later tested De Négrier’s regiment.
- 12 February: The hardest fighting came at Bac Vie. Giovanninelli’s units led the assault and suffered the highest toll of the campaign (about 30 dead, 188 wounded). The French finally broke through the Chinese defenses.
- 13 February: The French entered Lạng Sơn after the Chinese abandoned the town and fought only a token rearguard at Ky Lua. The Chinese had retreated toward the border.

Aftermath and later actions
- The victory at Lạng Sơn allowed the French to threaten the Chinese supply lines. On 16 February, Brière de l’Isle left Lang Son with Giovanninelli’s 1st Brigade to relieve the siege at Tuyển Quang, while De Négrier remained with the 2nd Brigade to pursue the Guangxi Army.
- De Négrier attacked Dong Dang on 23 February, forcing the Chinese to retreat toward Longzhou. The French then briefly crossed into Guangxi and on 25 February blew up the Gate of China at Zhennan Pass (Zhennanguan) before returning to Lang Son.
- Three weeks later, the Chinese attacked the Dong Dang garrison, contributing to the French defeat at the Battle of Bang Bo on 24 March 1885.

Orders and honours
- Brière de l’Isle issued two orders highlighting the success at Dong Song (4–6 February) and the capture of Lang Sơn (13 February). He praised the troops for their courage, endurance, and supply efforts that kept the advance moving.

Result
- The campaign ended in a French victory: Lang Sơn was captured, and the Guangxi Army withdrew across the border. The French maintained a stronger position in northern Tonkin, though further fighting in the area continued, including the later actions around Dong Dang and Lang Sơn.