Battle of Aizu

• Bakufu loyalists Vs. Emperor loyalists
  • Date: 1868/int.4/20-9/24"
  • Location: Aizu
  • Japanese:会津戦争(Aizu Senso)

Boshin War Toba-Fushimi - Koshu-Katsunuma - Utsunomiya castle - Ueno - Hokuetsu - Aizu - Hakodate

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Orange:Main units of the imperial troops.Yellow:Small units of the imperial troops.

Shirakawaguchi

int.4/20, Aizu troops occupied Shirakawa castle. A Chôshû samurai Sera Shûzô who stationed the castle then was assassinated in Fukushima same day. int.4/25, the imperial troops attemted to take over the castle but were defeated. int.4/28, reinforcement of the imperial troops were arriving near Shirakawa. They started attacking the castle in the early morning of 5/1. The imperial troops were about 700, Bakufu loyalists side were 2500 to 3000. However, Aizu troops lost commanders early and they had to retreat. According to Ichiji Masaharu's journal, the death toll of Bakufu loyalists side was about 700, Emperor loyalists side was only 10.

Nihonmatsu

7/29, about 2000 Imperial loyalist troops crossed the Abukuma river to attack Nihonmatsu castle. Nihonmatsu han had only 300 soldiers, including the Nihonmatsu Shonentai. Aizu han sent the Denshutai to help Nihonmatsu han but they were outnumbered. Lord Niwa Nagakuni escaped to Yonezawa han, and his chief vassals set fire on the castle and commited Seppuku.

Bonari pass

Aizu han had built 3 batteries on the pass. 8/21 early morning, one battery had fallen. Aizu troops weren't able to find enemy troops quickly because of dense fog. Emperor loyalist troops broke through the pass in the evening. They secured Juroku bashi next day.

References

• Boshin war(戊辰戦争) Sasaki Suguru
• Aizu Senso Zenshi (会津戦争全史) Hoshi Ryoichi

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