Changes

Amply guarded by rivers and canals to the north, east and west, Osaka castle was most vulnerable to attack from the south.  Realizing this, the Toyotomi forces went to work on digging a dry moat that was fortified with wooden palisades. On the inner-side, a stone and earthen embankment was constructed with strong, defensive positions at the eastern and western ends to protect the roads leading into the castle.  At the eastern end, nearly a kilometer south of the castle’s Tamatsukuriguchi entrance, a half-moon shaped embankment strengthened with wooden walls was built. It was from this position that Yukimura would valiantly command 5,000 troops against the attacking Tokugawa forces, earning the barbican the name "Sanada-[[Castle terms|maru]]" (the present Sanada-yama Park).

Amply guarded by rivers and canals to the north, east and west, Osaka castle was most vulnerable to attack from the south.  Realizing this, the Toyotomi forces went to work on digging a dry moat that was fortified with wooden palisades. On the inner-side, a stone and earthen embankment was constructed with strong, defensive positions at the eastern and western ends to protect the roads leading into the castle.  At the eastern end, nearly a kilometer south of the castle’s Tamatsukuriguchi entrance, a half-moon shaped embankment strengthened with wooden walls was built. It was from this position that Yukimura would valiantly command 5,000 troops against the attacking Tokugawa forces, earning the barbican the name "Sanada-[[Castle terms|maru]]" (the present Sanada-yama Park).

By mid-December 1614, the Tokugawa forces began to tighten the noose around Osaka castle. As pointed out earlier, the castle’s southern flank was its weakest point and hence the Tokugawa launched an all-out assault on the Sanada-maru on the fourth day of the twelfth  month, 1614 (January 3, 1615). The first assault wave was led by [[Maeda Toshitsune]] (1593-1658) commanding 12,000 troops who retreated after scores were cut down in a deadly crossfire of arquebus fire as they rushed for the walls of Sanada-maru.  A second wave of  10,000 under the command of Ieyasu’s grandson, [[Matsudaira Tadanao ]] (1595-1650) and an additional 10,000 troops adorning the famous red-lacquered armor of the Ii clan, led by [[Ii Naotaka]] (1590-1659) were  greeted by a hail of hot lead from the defenders of Sanada-maru. However, the combined Matsudaira-Ii force managed to withstand the constant barrage of gunfire long enough to breach the castle’s Hachomeguchi gate where they were greeted by 8,000 Toyotomi troops led by [[Kimura Shigenari]] (1593-1615). Pressed by Kimura’s forces in front of them and facing deadly fire on their right flank from Sanada’s troops, the Matsudaira-Ii force was soon in full-retreat back to their lines. Kimura’s troops gave chase, and proceeded to rout an additional 700 Tokugawa forces led by [[Matsukura Shigemasa]] (1574-1630) and [[Terazawa Hirotaka]] (1563-1633) along the way.

By the middle of the 11th month 1614, the Tokugawa forces began to tighten the noose around Osaka castle. As pointed out earlier, the castle’s southern flank was its weakest point and hence the Tokugawa launched an all-out assault on the Sanada-maru on the fourth day of the twelfth  month, 1614 (January 3, 1615). The first assault wave was led by [[Maeda Toshitsune]] (1593-1658) commanding 12,000 troops who retreated after scores were cut down in a deadly crossfire of arquebus fire as they rushed for the walls of Sanada-maru.  A second wave of  10,000 under the command of Ieyasu’s grandson, [[Matsudaira Tadanao ]] (1595-1650) and an additional 10,000 troops adorning the famous red-lacquered armor of the Ii clan, led by [[Ii Naotaka]] (1590-1659) were  greeted by a hail of hot lead from the defenders of Sanada-maru. However, the combined Matsudaira-Ii force managed to withstand the constant barrage of gunfire long enough to breach the castle’s Hachomeguchi gate where they were greeted by 8,000 Toyotomi troops led by [[Kimura Shigenari]] (1593-1615). Pressed by Kimura’s forces in front of them and facing deadly fire on their right flank from Sanada’s troops, the Matsudaira-Ii force was soon in full-retreat back to their lines. Kimura’s troops gave chase, and proceeded to rout an additional 700 Tokugawa forces led by [[Matsukura Shigemasa]] (1574-1630) and [[Terazawa Hirotaka]] (1563-1633) along the way.

The next day, on the fifth day of the twelfth month (January 4), the Tokugawa resumed their attack on Sanada-maru and a force of 4,000 under [[Todo Takatora|Tôdô Takatora]] (1556-1630) made a dash for the Tanimachiguchi gate (谷町口門), one gate down to the west from the Hachomeguchi gate. Tôdô briefly managed to breach the castle’s wall, but came under a fierce counterattack by 5,000 troops under [[Chosokabe Morichika|Chôsokabe Morichika]] (1575-1615), driving the Tokugawa back, yet again.

The next day, on the fifth day of the twelfth month (January 4), the Tokugawa resumed their attack on Sanada-maru and a force of 4,000 under [[Todo Takatora|Tôdô Takatora]] (1556-1630) made a dash for the Tanimachiguchi gate (谷町口門), one gate down to the west from the Hachomeguchi gate. Tôdô briefly managed to breach the castle’s wall, but came under a fierce counterattack by 5,000 troops under [[Chosokabe Morichika|Chôsokabe Morichika]] (1575-1615), driving the Tokugawa back, yet again.