Information about Song Qian's life is sparse and scattered throughout the various biographies of notable persons in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the authoritative source for the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period.
For example, his origins (e.g. birthplace, ancestral home), courtesy name, ranks and appointments held, etc., were not recorded in history.
As they were fleeing, Pan Zhang, another officer under Sun Quan, chased and executed two deserting soldiers and forced the others to return to battle.
[1] Nevertheless, Sun Quan and his army suffered a devastating defeat at Xiaoyao Ford and barely managed to escape alive.
During the battle, he attacked and destroyed five enemy camps and killed their commanding officers.