Reinforcement from Acapulco allowed Gustave-Joseph Munier to organize a security detachment for the general's trip.

The captain of the steamship Lucifer, Joseph-Léon Gazielle, was ordered to conduct this mission and was given 64 men of the tirailleurs algériens led by Captain Véran, an additional 40 marines from the warships Lucifer and Pallas, and the battalion of Jorge Carmona, which was trained and stationed in Mazatlan.

The French launched an ill-considered and unprepared frontal assault on the left batteries, which resulted in heavy losses.

As ammunition ran low, Gazielle ordered a general retreat while the Mexican continued to fire on the withdrawing forces.

The Mexican uhlans from Jalisco launched three more charges until the French were driven back to the bridge on the Humaya River.

With the rest of the company of thirty men, they were chased by the Mexican cavalry and he became trapped on an island in the river.

[2]: 459  Bel Kassem Ben Mohammed was wounded in the battle and after three and a half months he died of pneumonia at the military hospital of Parral, Chihuahua.