Ethiopian emperor Menelik had repudiated the Treaty of Wuchale, and was consolidating his power with plans to oust the Italians.

In December 1894, Bahta Hagos led a rebellion in Akkele Guzay, which set the stage for open warfare between the Italians and the Ethiopians.

His army retreated to the fort at Adi Ugri and later moved to a strategic point along Mengesha's invasion route at Coatit.

Behind Galliano, Major Hidalgo and 2nd Battalion were in reserve, and the artillery under Captain Cicco di Cola was on the right with Toselli.

The Italian forces moved east, guided in their march by the dark outline of a conical hill with a tukul on the summit.

As the sun rose, Captain di Cola's battery opened fire with shrapnel from a height at 1,900 meters from the enemy camp.

The irregulars on the wing, seeking high ground, moved too far towards the center of the line, leaving almost unguarded on their left the height and village of Adu Auei.

Notwithstanding the sudden surprise, rapidly increasing groups of warriors swarm out with great promptitude and dash, advancing through the winding paths and small gorges, crossing them with wonderful agility, concealing their numbers, shielding themselves with their obstacles.

They offer us only a small mark as they disappear from time to time, and gather in greater numbers under the cover of the defenses.The rifle fire runs along the whole line of the 3rd and 4th battalions, which keep well under the control of their officers in spite of the elan of the attack; as is proved by the frequent volleys, and the bayonet charges of individual units, on that broken, furrowed, and thickly covered ground.As Baratieri observed the battle raging in front of Mengesha's camp, he noticed a large cloud of dust forming on his left.

On the 18th, Baratieri returned northwards, leaving garrisons in Senafe and Segheneyti, and ordering the occupation of the strong positions of Hadish-Adi and Adi-Keih, as the Tigrayans retreated westward to regroup.