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sent word to
Satsuma governor Oyama that any attempt by Satsuma soldiers to cross Kumamoto would be met by force. Tani had 3,800 soldiers and 600 policemen at his disposal. The defenders included a number of men who would later rise to positions of great prominence in the Japanese military, including
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of the Kokura
Fourteenth Regiment lost its regimental colours in fierce fighting. However, despite their successes, the Satsuma army failed to take the castle, and began to realize that the conscript army was not as ineffective as first assumed. After two days of fruitless attack, the Satsuma forces
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On
February 19, the first shots of the war were fired as the defenders of Kumamoto castle opened fire on Satsuma units attempting to force their way into the castle. Kumamoto castle, built in 1467, was among the strongest in Japan, Saigō was confident that his forces would be more than a match for
380:. However, as most of the garrison of Kumamoto castle was from Kyūshū, and as many of the officers were natives of Kagoshima, their loyalties were open to question. Rather than risk desertions or defections, Tani decided to stand on the defensive.
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faced an
Imperial army of over 90,000 men and were forced to retreat with significant losses. In addition, Saigō was unable to prevent the landing of troops to his rear and the loss of Kagoshima itself as a base for supplies and reinforcement.
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On the night of April 8, a force from
Kumamoto castle made a sortie, forcing open a hole in the Satsuma lines and enabling desperately needed supplies to reach the garrison. The main Imperial Army, under General
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The defeat of Saigō at
Kumamoto greatly demoralized and weakened his forces, who retreated in disarray and were unable to resume their offensive. Although Saigō fought in several more battles before the final
344:. The leaders of the Meiji government were aware that the loss of Kumamoto meant that all of Kyūshū would fall to Satsuma forces, and this loss would fan a rebellion across other parts of Japan as well.
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A rebel detachment sent to block the passes north of town soon encountered the forward elements of the relief force. After several sharp clashes, both sides disengaged on
February 26.
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flocked to Saigō's banner, swelling his forces to around 20,000 men. However, Saigō was forced to divide his troops to hold a long defensive line from
Tabaruzaka to the Bay of
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On
February 22, the main Satsuma army arrived and attacked Kumamoto castle in a pincer movement. Fighting continued into the night. Imperial forces fell back, and Acting Major
400:. The situation grew especially desperate for the defenders as their stores of food and ammunition had been depleted by a warehouse fire shortly before the rebellion began.
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and to rid the government of corrupt and venial politicians. The route to Tokyo was via
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arrived in Kumamoto on April 12, putting the now heavily outnumbered Satsuma forces to flight.
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Satsuma Rebellion: Satsuma Clan Samurai Against the Imperial Japanese Army
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Tani's peasant conscripts, who were still demoralized by the recent
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The Last Samurai : The Life and Battles of Saigō Takamori
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Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History
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Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History
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Imperial Japanese Army officers of the Kumamoto garrison
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518:. University Publications of America.
480:. University Publications of America.
351:on February 14 and the Commandant of
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447:1874 picture of Kumamoto Castle.
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514:Mounsley, Augustus H (1979).
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16:1877 Japanese military event
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56:19 February - 12 April 1877
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261:Tabaruzaka
537:. Wiley.
414:. In the
266:Shiroyama
573:130°42′E
316:and the
298:Kumamoto
256:Kumamoto
180:Strength
66:Kumamoto
61:Location
570:32°48′N
420:samurai
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308:Summary
204:Unknown
201:Unknown
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342:Kyūshū
191:20,000
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81:Result
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398:siege
326:Tokyo
285:熊本城強襲
108:Japan
74:Japan
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