The Battle of Shirakawaguchi (1868): The Contest for Shirakawa Castle in the Boshin War

The battle of Shirakawaguchi was a Boshin War battle fought around Shirakawa Castle (Komine Castle) between the new government army and allied forces including the Aizu domain, from the 20th day of the intercalary 4th month to the 14th day of the 7th month of Keio 4 (old calendar; 10 June to 31 August 1868).

Before the recapture of Shirakawa Castle

On the 20th day of the intercalary 4th month, Aizu troops and the Shinsengumi occupied Shirakawa Castle. On the 25th day, an advance party of the new government army made a surprise attack on Shirasaka-guchi but was attacked in the flank and withdrew. After that, Saigo Tanomo of Aizu (commander of the Shirakawa front) and Yokoyama Chikara (deputy commander) and others entered the castle, joined by Sendai and Tanagura troops.

Commanders and strength

The new government commanders were Ijichi Masaharu and Itagaki Taisuke, both staff officers of the Tosando vanguard command. Domains taking part included Satsuma, Tosa, Choshu, Ogaki, Oshi, Kurobane, Tokushima, Hikone and Tatebayashi. Named among the allied commanders are Saigo Tanomo, Yokoyama Chikara (killed), Otani Shima (a senior retainer of Nihonmatsu and captain of the Yugekitai), Abe Naizen (killed) and Yamaguchi Jiro (Saito Hajime). Strength is given as about 700 for the new government army (about 1,500 after Itagaki arrived) and about 2,500 to over 4,500 for the allied forces.

The recapture on the 1st day of the 5th month

The allied forces were posted on Inariyama to the south, Raijinyama to the east and Tachiishiyama to the west. On the 1st day of the 5th month the new government army attacked from the south, west and east, enveloped the allied force on Inariyama from the flank and burst into the castle town. The allied forces fled, and the new government army recaptured Shirakawa Castle.

The fighting that followed

From the 26th day of the 5th month to the 12th day of the 6th month the allied forces made several general assaults, all of which failed. On the 24th day of the 6th month Itagaki Taisuke's unit took Tanagura Castle. On the 14th day of the 7th month the allied forces made a last attack on Shirakawa Castle and then withdrew.

Result and casualties

The new government army held Shirakawa Castle, and the battle is said to have tipped the overall course of the Tohoku campaign toward the new government. Casualty figures vary: one figure gives 113 dead for the new government army and 927 for the allied forces, while another account gives about 700 killed and wounded for the allied forces and around 20 for the new government army.