Battle of Ulan Butung
1690 · Ulan Butung, Hexigten Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia · China · Early modern
Galdan met the attack with a "camel fortress" defensive line made of bound camels. The Qing army bombarded the camel fortress heavily with artillery, and after a stalemate Galdan retreated to the Northern Gobi.
Belligerents
Qing
- Commanders
- Kangxi Emperor, Fuquan
- Strength
- The main Qing army and the Firearms Division, with the emperor personally campaigning and directing from the rear
Dzungars
- Commanders
- Galdan
- Strength
- Dzungar cavalry, using a camel formation to defend against firearms
Background
Galdan of the Dzungars expanded eastward, pressing on the Mongol tribes of the Southern Gobi, and the Qing court resolved to send troops to strike back.
Course of the battle
- Camel-wall formationGaldan arranged camels into a formation and held a defensive position on strong ground.
- Artillery bombardmentThe Qing Firearms Division heavily bombarded the camel fortress line.
- Galdan retreats northUnable to hold out, the Dzungar army withdrew north to the Northern Gobi overnight.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1690 |
|---|---|
| Place | Ulan Butung, Hexigten Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia |
| Result | Galdan met the attack with a "camel fortress" defensive line made of bound camels. The Qing army bombarded the camel fortress heavily with artillery, and after a stalemate Galdan retreated to the Northern Gobi. |
| Winner | Qing |
| Casualties | The Dzungar army suffered heavy casualties, and its camel formation was shattered by artillery fire. |
| Territorial change | Galdan's forces were checked and withdrew north, but the threat was not fully removed, and the Qing army campaigned again a few years later. |
Impact
This was the Qing dynasty's first head-on clash with the Dzungar Khanate and ended in victory, opening decades of wars between the Qing and the Dzungars.
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