the Battle of Beni Mered unfolded in April 1842 between French troops and Algerian resistance fighters operating south of Algiers, from Boufarik to Beni Mered in the Blida region. The French maintained a reserve camp near Beni Mered, positioned between Blida and Boufarik.
Early that year, the cavalry led by Ahmed bin Salem pushed their operations from Kabylia into the Mitidja Plain and targeted French units near Beni Mered. On 11 April 1842, close to the French reserve camp, they struck a small detachment of 22 soldiers commanded by Sergeant Blandan. Around 300 cavalrymen overwhelmed and wiped out the unit. By the time reinforcements under Lieutenant-Colonel Morris reached the scene and forced the Algerians to withdraw, only five French soldiers were still alive.