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On September 24, 1877, the Battle of Shiroyama, a decisive victory of the Imperial Japanese Army over the Satsuma Rebellion took place. An excerpt from the article:
"On September 23, two of Saigo's officers approached the Imperial lines under a flag of truce with the goal of negotiating a way to save their leader. Rebuffed, they were sent back with a letter from Yamagata imploring the rebels to surrender. Forbidden by honor to surrender, Saigo spent the night in a sake party with his officers. After midnight, Yamagata's artillery opened fire and was supported by warships in the harbor. Reducing the rebel's position, the Imperial troops attacked around 3:00 AM. Charging the Imperial lines, the samurai closed and engaged the government conscripts with their swords.
By 6:00 AM, only 40 of the rebels remained alive. Wounded in the thigh and stomach, Saigo had his friend Beppu Shinsuke carry him to a quiet spot where he committed seppuku. With their leader dead, Beppu led the remaining samurai in a suicidal charge against the enemy. Surging forward, they were cut down by Yamagata's Gatling guns.
Aftermath:
The Battle of Shiroyama cost the rebels their entire force including the renowned Saigo Takamori. Imperial losses are not known. The defeat at Shiroyama ended the Satsuma Rebellion and broke the back of the samurai class. Modern weapons proved their superiority and the path was set for the building of a modern, Westernized Japanese army that included from people of all classes."
"On September 23, two of Saigo's officers approached the Imperial lines under a flag of truce with the goal of negotiating a way to save their leader. Rebuffed, they were sent back with a letter from Yamagata imploring the rebels to surrender. Forbidden by honor to surrender, Saigo spent the night in a sake party with his officers. After midnight, Yamagata's artillery opened fire and was supported by warships in the harbor. Reducing the rebel's position, the Imperial troops attacked around 3:00 AM. Charging the Imperial lines, the samurai closed and engaged the government conscripts with their swords.
By 6:00 AM, only 40 of the rebels remained alive. Wounded in the thigh and stomach, Saigo had his friend Beppu Shinsuke carry him to a quiet spot where he committed seppuku. With their leader dead, Beppu led the remaining samurai in a suicidal charge against the enemy. Surging forward, they were cut down by Yamagata's Gatling guns.
Aftermath:
The Battle of Shiroyama cost the rebels their entire force including the renowned Saigo Takamori. Imperial losses are not known. The defeat at Shiroyama ended the Satsuma Rebellion and broke the back of the samurai class. Modern weapons proved their superiority and the path was set for the building of a modern, Westernized Japanese army that included from people of all classes."
Satsuma Rebellion: Battle of Shiroyama
Posted from thoughtco.com
World History
Military History
Warfare
Combat
Japan
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 11
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I am on a tangent. I have been watching many fascinating episodes about Japan produced by their version of NPR. They spent good coin in showcasing Japan. Sometimes the focal point is the people, natural settings, festivals, food, and poignant moments.
The Japanese are perfectionists, creative, and seek ways to improve methods to realize better outcomes. I ponder if the Japanese believed their military was superior to ours because they thought their military had evolved beyond ours. The attack at Pearl Harbor was quite sophisticated for that era, and the Japanese Navy had leading edge capabilities. Is this why they thought attacking Pearl Harbor was worth the risk?
In my feeble mind I think they were confident in fighting us, but history will show they were overconfident. I don’t think Admiral Yamamoto who lived in the US a few years wanted to fight the US because it was a sleeping giant, but he did what he was ordered to do despite his misgivings. Admiral Yamamoto was right. I will use the Battle of the Philippines sea as an example. Our navy assembled a 600 ship armada. Once we sunk all her aircraft carriers it was just a matter of time we would win in the Pacific.
The Japanese are perfectionists, creative, and seek ways to improve methods to realize better outcomes. I ponder if the Japanese believed their military was superior to ours because they thought their military had evolved beyond ours. The attack at Pearl Harbor was quite sophisticated for that era, and the Japanese Navy had leading edge capabilities. Is this why they thought attacking Pearl Harbor was worth the risk?
In my feeble mind I think they were confident in fighting us, but history will show they were overconfident. I don’t think Admiral Yamamoto who lived in the US a few years wanted to fight the US because it was a sleeping giant, but he did what he was ordered to do despite his misgivings. Admiral Yamamoto was right. I will use the Battle of the Philippines sea as an example. Our navy assembled a 600 ship armada. Once we sunk all her aircraft carriers it was just a matter of time we would win in the Pacific.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
To state Filipinos dislike the US is silly. How long were you in the PI? If your opinion is based on one book then you are mistaken. SGT Aaron Atwood
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MAJ Ken Landgren
Well he is wrong about Filipinos. I grew up with them, and you are wrong for assuming he is right. SGT Aaron Atwood
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SGT Aaron Atwood
MAJ Ken Landgren I have similar sentiment whenever anyone mentions the people of Okinawa or other places I've been, and got to interact with as many kinds of their people as possible. My view of the Philippines as a whole is to be careful; especially around the NPA. We were TAD right by their territory; thus the imminent danger pay. Did I ever come across anyone in the NPA? I'll never know. Combating them or their efforts wasn't my direct mission. What Bradley wrote in Imperial Cruise simply gave insight as to why a number of Filipinos, the NPA especially, don't like us as well as a reason why the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor and elsewhere. The main point Bradley made in that book is that we majorly jacked up as far as foreign policy is concerned during and after the Spanish-American War. I'm happy for you for having what seems to be a positive experience in the Philippines.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
SGT Aaron Atwood - You can not make the statement the NPA does not like us, thus Filipinos in general don't like Americans. Comparing insurgents with the rest of the populace is false. Very false. That's like saying the Taliban does not like us, therefore, all Afghans don't like us.
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