The French-Spanish expedition towards Saigon, Cochin China according to the Dutch newspaper De Oostpost dated 4 April 1859

An item reported the departure on 2^nd February from Turon, Cochon China the French squadron consisting of 8 warships and 1.000 French and Spanish embarked on transports. When entering the river was a huge fortress passed and soon afterwards a second fortress and a redoubt defending the entrance of the river. Guns in the redoubt started firing at the gunboat Dragon which was the leading ship of the squadron. The next morning at daybreak ordered the French admiral to start firing. The first shot of the frigate Phlegeton set fire in the powder magazine of the fortress and within short time were fortress and redoubt destroyed by the French gunfire and landing troops destroyed all what was flammable and disabled the Cochin Chinese guns. The 12^th steamed the squadron further headed by the gunboats. The next day was the gunboat Avalanche lying on a distance of 100 yards a few times hit by another battery and were some of her crewmembers wounded. After a hour was this battery captured. After destroying on the 14^th and 15^th four fortress was in the evening of the 15^th off Saigon anchored. The next day was this town attacked and later captured.