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.
Ditekan oleh komisaris jenderal sipil Jules Harmand untuk menyerang Bendera Hitam sesegera mungkin di posisi mereka di Sungai Day, ia mengambil ladang itu pada bulan Agustus 1883, meskipun panas dan lembabnya musim panas Tonkin.