on september 27, the guerrillas assassinated the french-installed chief of gò công, displaying his severed head in the town market. the chief's servant, who was an informant for định, aided this operation. the killing had the effect of intimidating the chief's designated successor into submitting to the rebels and ceasing his service for the french. in november 1861, định's men went into the town of mỹ tho to recruit militants and collect food supplies. during this time, they attacked and burned pro-french villages and their leaders.