Shinsengumi
Saito Hajime was born as a son of Gokenin in Edo. He killed a Hatamoto when he was around 18 and he had to ran away from Edo. He joined Mibu Roshigumi in Kyoto 1863. In 1864 He became captain of the 3rd unit of Shinsengumi. When Ito Kashitaro group formed Goryo Eji, Saito joined them as a spy and detected their plan of assassination of Kondo Isami which resulted Ito Kashitaro was assassinated by Shinsengumi.(Incident at Aburano Koji)
Boshin War
He participated the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, the Battle of Koshu-Katsunuma. Then he went to Aizu with several members. (Kondo Isami and other members went to Nagareyama) He was named to be commander of Shinsengumi instead of Hijikata Toshizo who was wounded. After they lost the Battle of Bonari pass , Hijikata decided to go north to join Enomoto Takeaki's Bakufu troops. According to Saito Hajime's grandson, Saito said "Shinsengumi have been benefitted by Lord Matsudaira Katamori. I refuse to leave Aizu. No way. I would die with them." Saito and around 20 other members stayed in Aizu and hold a siege in Nyoraido, but defeated. 1868 September, Aizu surrendered. Aizu samurai and families were expeled to Tonami.
Meiji
Saito married to Takagi Tokio in Tonami, sponsered by former Lord Matsudaira Katamori, former Aizu han Karo Yamakawa Hiroshi and Sagawa Kanbei. (Saito had prior marriage with Shinoda Yaso but details are unknown) Saito was given new name Fujita Goro by Matsudaira Katamori. Later they moved to Tokyo, Goro was hired to Police department. 1877, he was sent to Kyushu(Seinan War) as a member of Batto tai with many other former Aizu han samurai. It was like revenge of Boshin war.
References
- Shinsengumi Zentaishi Tettei Guide (新選組全隊士徹底ガイド) Maeda Masaki
- Shinsengumi Taishi Den (新選組隊士伝) Gakken
- Shinsengumi (新選組) Sekai Bunkasha