Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút

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Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút
Part of Tây Sơn-Siam War
Date January 19, 1785 Location Tiền Giang , Southern Vietnam Result Decisive Tây Sơn Victory
Belligerents
Tây Sơn (Vietnamese) forces	Siamese Army Siamese Navy
Commanders
Nguyễn Huệ	Chieu Tang, Chieu Suong (as written in Vietnamese)
Strength
20,000	50,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Near annihilation

The Battle of Rạch Gầm-Xoài Mút was fought between Tây-Sơn (Vietnamese) and Siamese forces in present-day Tiền Giang Province on January 19, 1785. It went down as one of the greatest victories in Vietnamese history.

[edit] Background

In 1776 when Tây-Sơn rebel forces captured Gia Định they executed the entire Nguyễn royal family and much of the local population. Nguyễn Ánh, the only member of the Nguyễn family still alive, managed to escape across the river to Siam. While in exile Nguyễn Ánh wished to retake Gia Định and push the Tây-Sơn rebels out. He convinced the peaceful King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke of Siam to provide him with support troops and a small invasion force.

In mid-1784 Nguyễn Ánh, with 50,000 Siamese troops and 300 ships, moved through Cambodia, then East of Tonle Sap (Toh Lay Sap in Thai) and penetrated the recently annexed provinces of Annam. 20,000 Siamese troops reached Kiên Giang and another 30,000 landed in Chap Lap, as the Siamese advanced towards Cần Thơ. Later that year the Siamese captured the former Cambodian province of Gia Định where, it was claimed, they committed atrocities against the population of Việt settlers.

[edit] Battle

Nguyễn Huệ anticipating a move from the Siamese, had secretly positioned his infantry along the Mekong River (Mae Nam Kohng), and on some islands in the middle, facing other troops on the northern banks with naval reinforcements on both sides of the infantry positions.

On the morning of January 19 Nguyễn Huệ sent a small naval force, under a banner of truce, to lure the Siamese into his trap. After so many victories, the Siamese army and naval forces were confident of a surrender. So, they went to the parley, unaware of the trap. Nguyễn Huệ's troops dashed into the Siamese formation, slaughtered the unarmed emissaries and turned on the unprepared troops. The battle ended with a near annihilation of the Siamese force. All the ships of the Siamese navy were destroyed and only 1,000 of the original expedition survived to escape back across the river into Siam.

[edit] References

• Dutton, G (1998) A Brief History of the Tay Son Movement. Washington University
• The Battle of Rạch Gầm Xoài; Excerpt from Nhà Tây Sơn