The Battle of Noheji (野辺地戦争, Noheji sensō) was a minor battle of the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration in Japan on November 7, 1868. It is considered a part of the larger Aizu campaign.
The Tsugaru first sided with the pro-imperial forces of Satchō Alliance, and attacked nearby Shōnai Domain.[2][3] However, the Tsugaru soon switched course, and briefly became a member of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei.[4] However, for reasons yet unclear, the Tsugaru backed out of the alliance and re-joined the imperial cause after a few months.[2]
The village of Noheji in what is now part of Aomori Prefecture was an important port for the Nambu clan on Mutsu Bay. Noheji was garrisoned by approximately 400 men from Hachinohe Domain after the defection of the Tsugaru back to the imperial side. The port was shelled by Kubota Domain warship Shunyo-maru commanded by Saga Domain's Nakamuta Kuranosuke on September 10, but with little damage to the village or reported casualties.
The battleedit
In the pre-dawn hours of September 23, a force of 180 men from Hirosaki and Kuroishi Domains, divided into three companies, converged on Noheji, capturing the outlying hamlet of Makado, which they fired, destroying 64 homes and one Buddhist temple. The Nambu garrison at Noheji responded to the fire, coming under attack as they approached the burning hamlet. The Nambu forces attempted to encircle the Tsugaru attackers to cut off their escape, with only partial success. In the ensuing melee, Tsugaru forces managed to penetrate into the village to almost within sight of the Nambu garrison headquarters before the death of their leader, Kojima Nagayoshi, sparked a retreat.
Accounts of the number of casualties of the battle vary widely. Based on the number of graves at the cemetery at Noheji, at least 27 men from both sides perished and were buried in the town. Per the official domain records from Hirosaki Domain, the Tsugaru clan lost 29 men, and similar records from the Nambu clan indicate losses of 45 men on the Nambu side.
Consequencesedit
As a result of this minor skirmish, Tsugaru Domain was able to prove its defection from the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei and loyalty to the imperial cause. Tsugaru forces later joined the imperial army in attacking the Republic of Ezo at Hakodate.[5] As a result, the entire clan was able to evade the punishment meted out by the government on the northern domains after the establishment of the Meiji government.[6] On November 6, 1869, Hirosaki Domain dispatched two emissaries to Noheji, to meet with the leaders of Makado hamlet. The emissaries claimed that the Tsugaru clan had been forced into attacking Noheji under pressure from Saga Domain, and offered rice and timber for the rebuilding of the hamlet.
Referencesedit
Kojima, Keizō (2002). Boshin sensō kara Seinan sensō e. Tokyo: Chūōkōron-shinsha.
Koyasu Nobushige (1880). Buke kazoku meiyoden 武家家族名誉伝 Volume 1. Tokyo: Koyasu Nobushige. (Accessed from , 17 July 2008)
Onodera, Eikō (2005). Boshin nanboku sensō to Tōhoku seiken. Sendai: Kita no mori.
Ravina, Mark (1999). Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan. California: Stanford University Press
Notesedit
^Koyasu Nobushige (1880), Buke kazoku meiyoden vol. 1 (Tokyo: Koyasu Nobushige), p. 25. (Accessed from National Diet Library 2010-02-11 at the Wayback Machine, 17 July 2008)
battle, noheji, 野辺地戦争, noheji, sensō, minor, battle, boshin, meiji, restoration, japan, november, 1868, considered, part, larger, aizu, campaign, part, boshin, memorial, noheji, aomoridatenovember, 1868locationnoheji, aomori40, 87083, 10611, 87083, 10611result. The Battle of Noheji 野辺地戦争 Noheji sensō was a minor battle of the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration in Japan on November 7 1868 It is considered a part of the larger Aizu campaign Battle of NohejiPart of Boshin WarBattle of Noheji Memorial Noheji AomoriDateNovember 7 1868LocationNoheji Aomori40 52 15 N 141 06 22 E 40 87083 N 141 10611 E 40 87083 141 10611Resultindecisive Northern Alliance victoryBelligerentsImperial faction Hirosaki DomainKuroishi DomainŌuetsu Reppan DōmeiMorioka Domain Hachinohe DomainCommanders and leadersYohei TochiuchiMasaji AtakaKimura NosukeSakon KojimaEikichi TaniguchiStrength180 combatants400 combatantsCasualties and losses2945Battle of NohejiBattle of Noheji Aomori Prefecture Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 3 Consequences 4 References 5 NotesBackground editOn September 20 1868 the pro Shōgunate Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei was proclaimed at Morioka capital of the Nanbu clan who rule Morioka Domain The territory of the Nambu extended along the northeastern half of Mutsu Province as far north as Shimokita Peninsula and the Nambu controlled a subsidiary domain at Hachinohe The northwest of Mutsu Province was dominated by the Nambu clan s hereditary rivals the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain with a subsidiary domain at Kuroishi 1 The Tsugaru first sided with the pro imperial forces of Satchō Alliance and attacked nearby Shōnai Domain 2 3 However the Tsugaru soon switched course and briefly became a member of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei 4 However for reasons yet unclear the Tsugaru backed out of the alliance and re joined the imperial cause after a few months 2 The village of Noheji in what is now part of Aomori Prefecture was an important port for the Nambu clan on Mutsu Bay Noheji was garrisoned by approximately 400 men from Hachinohe Domain after the defection of the Tsugaru back to the imperial side The port was shelled by Kubota Domain warship Shunyo maru commanded by Saga Domain s Nakamuta Kuranosuke on September 10 but with little damage to the village or reported casualties The battle editIn the pre dawn hours of September 23 a force of 180 men from Hirosaki and Kuroishi Domains divided into three companies converged on Noheji capturing the outlying hamlet of Makado which they fired destroying 64 homes and one Buddhist temple The Nambu garrison at Noheji responded to the fire coming under attack as they approached the burning hamlet The Nambu forces attempted to encircle the Tsugaru attackers to cut off their escape with only partial success In the ensuing melee Tsugaru forces managed to penetrate into the village to almost within sight of the Nambu garrison headquarters before the death of their leader Kojima Nagayoshi sparked a retreat Accounts of the number of casualties of the battle vary widely Based on the number of graves at the cemetery at Noheji at least 27 men from both sides perished and were buried in the town Per the official domain records from Hirosaki Domain the Tsugaru clan lost 29 men and similar records from the Nambu clan indicate losses of 45 men on the Nambu side Consequences editAs a result of this minor skirmish Tsugaru Domain was able to prove its defection from the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei and loyalty to the imperial cause Tsugaru forces later joined the imperial army in attacking the Republic of Ezo at Hakodate 5 As a result the entire clan was able to evade the punishment meted out by the government on the northern domains after the establishment of the Meiji government 6 On November 6 1869 Hirosaki Domain dispatched two emissaries to Noheji to meet with the leaders of Makado hamlet The emissaries claimed that the Tsugaru clan had been forced into attacking Noheji under pressure from Saga Domain and offered rice and timber for the rebuilding of the hamlet References editKojima Keizō 2002 Boshin sensō kara Seinan sensō e Tokyo Chuōkōron shinsha Koyasu Nobushige 1880 Buke kazoku meiyoden 武家家族名誉伝 Volume 1 Tokyo Koyasu Nobushige Accessed from National Diet Library 17 July 2008 Onodera Eikō 2005 Boshin nanboku sensō to Tōhoku seiken Sendai Kita no mori Ravina Mark 1999 Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan California Stanford University PressNotes edit Koyasu Nobushige 1880 Buke kazoku meiyoden vol 1 Tokyo Koyasu Nobushige p 25 Accessed from National Diet Library Archived 2010 02 11 at the Wayback Machine 17 July 2008 a b McClellan p 175 Mark Ravina 1999 Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan California Stanford University Press pp 152 153 Onodera p 140 Koyasu Buke kazoku meiyoden vol 1 p 6 Ravina p 153 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Noheji amp oldid 1093435129, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
