Battle of Kuisegawa (1600, Prelude to Sekigahara)
October 20, 1600 (Keichō 5, 9th month, 14th day)
Near the Kuise River, Mino Province (around Kasagi-chō, Minamiisshiki-chō and Fukuda-chō in present-day Ōgaki, Gifu; the river has shifted course and the exact site is uncertain)
- Date
- October 20, 1600 (Keichō 5, 9th month, 14th day)
- Location
- Near the Kuise River, Mino Province (around Kasagi-chō, Minamiisshiki-chō and Fukuda-chō in present-day Ōgaki, Gifu; the river has shifted course and the exact site is uncertain)
- Result
- A local victory for the Western army.
Forces
Western army
Eastern army
About 2 min read
Overview
On the 14th day of the 9th month of Keichō 5 (October 20, 1600), the day before the main battle of Sekigahara, Western and Eastern forces clashed in a small engagement near the Kuise River in Mino Province. The Western army won, and the fight is remembered as a local prelude to the main battle.
Location
The fighting took place along the Kuise River near Ōgaki Castle, said to be around Kasagi-chō, Minamiisshiki-chō and Fukuda-chō in present-day Ōgaki. The river has since changed course, so the exact battlefield is uncertain.
The Two Sides
The Western side consisted of about 500 men under Shima Sakon (Shima Kiyooki), Gamō Bitchū and others, who sortied from Ōgaki Castle. The Eastern side was the unit of Nakamura Kazushige.
Course of the Fight
The Western troops hid one detachment, crossed the Kuise River and provoked Nakamura's unit. When the Eastern troops came out, the Westerners lured them in with a feigned retreat and defeated them together with the hidden men.
Result
The skirmish ended in a Western victory. The main battle was fought at Sekigahara the following day.