Battle of Maymyo
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| Battle of Maymyo | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Sino-Burmese War (1765–1769) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Konbaung dynasty |
 Qing Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Maha Thiha Thura Maha Sithu |
Ming Rui † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
10,000 infantry 2,000 cavalry | 30,000 infantry and cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Minimal |
~20,000 killed, wounded or executed ~some 5,000 men escaped ~2,500 captured | ||||||
Battle of Maymyo (Chinese: 小孟育战役), fought in March 1768, was the final battle and the end of the Third Qing Invasion of Burma during the Sino-Burmese War (1765–69). In November 1767, the Qianlong Emperor ordered the Third Invasion under the command of his nephew Mingrui, with a 50,000-strong invasion force led by the Manchu Bannermen, after the failure of the Green Standard Army and Yunnan Border troops in the earlier invasions. They were the most successful of the invasions, penetrating deep into central Burma and defeating the main Burmese army at the Battle of Goteik Gorge.[1] However, Mingrui ended up overstretching his lines by the time he reached Ava. Burmese reinforcements arrived from Siam and began cutting the Qing supply lines. Hounded by Burmese guerrilla attacks, his men suffering from tropical diseases, and with no hope of being reinforced, Mingrui was forced to retreat. The Burmese army under Maha Thiha Thura caught up with him at Maymyo, modern-day Pyinoolwin, and all but wiped out the invasion force with the exception of a few survivors.
The Qing army's plans were to use a pincer action on the Burmese capital of Ava with the main army of 30,000 under Ming Rui invading through Hsenwi, Lashio, and Hsipaw and down the Namtu river, with the smaller one, around 15,000 under General E'erdeng'e, invading through Bhamo. The remaining Qing troops were left behind at Hsenwi to guard the supply lines. After defeating the main Burmese army at the Battle of Goteik Gorge, Ming Rui's forces raced to Ava, mopping any resistance. However, Burmese guerrilla attacks under General Teingya Minkhaung on the long supply lines began to hamper the Qing army's ability to proceed. By the time they reached Ava, the Qing main army had overstretched itself and Ming Rui was forced on the defensive, playing for time to enable the northern army to come to his relief. However, the northern army had severely weakened itself during their repeated assaults on the Kaungton fort. Against orders, the northern force retreated back to Yunnan.
By early 1768, veteran Burmese troops had returned from the Siamese theatre and Generals Maha Thiha Thura and Ne Myo Sithu succeeded in retaking the Qing supply base at Hsenwi. Completely cut off from all supplies, the Bannermen from the freezing grasslands along the Russian border, began dying of malaria as well as guerrilla attacks in the burning weather of central Burma. Ming Rui abandoned all hope of taking Ava and attempted to retreat back to China with as many men as he could.[2]
In March, the Qing began their retreat, stalked by a Burmese army of 10,000 men and 2000 cavalry under Maha Thiha Thura, who had been promoted to overall command. The Burmese divided into two forces, a smaller army led by Maha Sithu continued to pursue Ming Rui, while the larger army led by Maha Thiha Thura advanced through the mountainous route to cut off the Qing army.