Battle of Goteik Gorge

The Battle of Goteik Gorge (Burmese: ဂုတ်ထိပ်တိုက်ပွဲ [ɡoʊʔtʰeɪʔ taɪʔpwɛ́]) was a battle in the Sino–Burmese War (1765–1769) fought between the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) and the Qing Dynasty of China in late December 1767 or early January 1768. It was the first major battle in the third invasion by the Chinese who had previously unsuccessfully invaded Burma in 1765 and 1766. The Chinese victory cleared the way for the main Chinese army to Ava, the Burmese capital.

Battle of Goteik Gorge (1768) ဂုတ်ထိပ်တိုက်ပွဲ
Part of Sino–Burmese War (1765–1769)
Date Late December 1767 or early January 1768[1] Location Goteik Gorge, Hsipaw (modern-day Shan State) Result Qing victory Main Burmese army broken up and forced to engage in guerrilla warfare
Belligerents
Qing Empire	Konbaung Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Mingrui[2]	Hsinbyushin Maha Sithu
Units involved
Eight Banners Army Green Standard Army Mongols Tai militias	Royal Burmese Army
Bamar and Shan levies
Strength
~15,000[3]	~7,000-8000[3]
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

Summary

The Chinese had planned a two-pronged invasion. The main Chinese army, led by Mingrui, a son-in-law of the Qianlong Emperor, was to approach Ava through Hsenwi, Lashio and Hsipaw, and down the Namtu river. (The main invasion route was the same route followed by the Manchu forces a century earlier, chasing Yongli Emperor of Ming Dynasty.) The second army, led by Gen. E'erdeng'e, was to try the Bhamo route again.[4][5] The ultimate objective was for both armies to clamp themselves in a pincer action on the Burmese capital of Ava.[6] The Burmese plan was to hold the second Chinese army in the north at Kaungton with the army led by Ne Myo Sithu, and meet the main Chinese army in the northeast with two armies led by Maha Sithu and Maha Thiha Thura.[7]

The third invasion began in November 1767 as the smaller Chinese army attacked and occupied Bhamo. Within eight days, Mingrui's main army occupied the Shan states of Hsenwi and Hsipaw. Mingrui made Hsenwi a supply base, and assigned 5000 troops to remain at Hsenwi and guard the rear. He also assigned another 15,000 to guard the supply lines between the vanguard of the army and Hsenwi. He then led a 15,000-strong army in the direction of Ava.[3] The Burmese main army led by Maha Sithu left Ava to meet the main Chinese army about mid-December 1767.[1]

In late December or early January, at the Goteik Gorge (south of Hsipaw), the two main armies faced off and the first major battle of the third invasion ensued. The Burmese army was outnumbered by two to one, and was thoroughly routed by Mingrui's Bannermen.[3] Maha Sithu then fell back to down the line of the Myitnge river.[1] The news of the disaster at Goteik reached Ava. Hsinbyushin finally realized the gravity of the situation, and urgently recalled Burmese armies from Siam.

References

1. Lt. Gen. Arthur P. Phayre (1883). History of Burma (1967 ed.). London: Susil Gupta. pp. 196–197.
   Maha Sithu's army left Ava in mid December. It could reach near Goteik in 2-4 weeks' time.
2. Charles Patterson Giersch (2006). Asian borderlands: the transformation of Qing China's Yunnan frontier. Harvard University Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-674-02171-6.
3. Maung Htin Aung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press. p. 178.
4. Hall, p. 28
5. Dai, p. 159
6. Michael E. Haskew; Christer Joregensen; Eric Niderost; Chris McNab (2008). Fighting techniques of the Oriental world, AD 1200-1860: equipment, combat skills, and tactics (Illustrated ed.). Macmillan. pp. 27–31. ISBN 978-0-312-38696-2.
7. Kyaw Thet (1962). History of Burma (in Burmese). Yangon: University of Rangoon Press. p. 314.