Victory in the First Battle: The Volunteer Army Launches Its First Campaign

Although the “United Nations forces” had discovered that the Volunteers had entered Korea after suffering a setback, they believed China's intervention was merely symbolic. After making a few adjustments, they continued advancing north. On October 31, the US 24th Infantry Division reached Taechon and Kusong, while the 1st Cavalry Division was transferred from Pyongyang to the Unsan and Ryongsandong area. The British 27th Brigade advanced to Chongju and Sunchon. The main force of the South Korean 1st Division moved toward the Nyongbyon area, the 8th Division reached Kusang, and the 7th Division shifted east to Kusang and Tokchon. The US 2nd Infantry Division moved north to the Anju area as the Eighth Army's reserve. Although their forces north of the Chongchon River had grown to more than 50,000, they remained dispersed. At this point, Volunteer Headquarters decided to conduct a campaign of flanking envelopment against the enemy's rear in combination with a frontal assault, concentrating its forces to destroy the South Korean 8th, 7th, and 1st Divisions one by one, then attacking the US and British forces as circumstances allowed. In accordance with the unified plan, all armies launched their assault at dusk on November 1. After fierce fighting, they largely achieved the campaign's objectives.