This is, to my knowledge, largely unprecedented information appearing in
English on the Shinsengumi. It deals with them at their low point, after
Toba-Fushimi and before Aizu. The text below is my compilation of the facts
from two sources-- Akama Shizuko's book on Saitou Hajime (Shinsengumi Saitou
Hajime no Subete) and Nagakura Shinpachi's own memoir "Shinsengumi
Tenmatsu-ki"
Any errors in translation are my own.
-M.
---
Following the disastrous defeat at Toba-Fushimi, the Shinsengumi headed to
Edo, the Shogun's capital, by sea. (Akama 99) They were split up between two
vessels-- the frigate Fujiyama-maru and the merchantman Jundo-maru. Kondou
Isami (wounded since his departure from Kyoto) and the other wounded men
were on the Fujiyama-Maru. (Akama 99)
-Jundo-maru shipped out on the 1st of February (Gregorian calendar) and
arrived in Shinagawa (near Edo) on the 4th. The 63 Shinsengumi men who were
on board disembarked and got shelter at a local kettle-vendor (Kamaya).
(Akama 99)
-Fujiyama-maru waited for the wind to change, and shipped out on the 3rd of
February, arriving in Yokohama on the 14th. The remaining Shinsengumi men--
22, who were heavily wounded-- were immediately taken to the Yokohama
Hospital. (Akama 99) The next day, the Fujiyama-maru entered Shinagawa, and
Kondou and Okita disembarked together, entering the Kanda Igakusho (Medical
Center). Based on this evidence, Akama Shizuko believes that 29 others,
including Yamaguchi Jiro (Saitou Hajime), accompanied them. However, these
men did not enter the medical center, instead finding accomodations in the
Imado area and receiving medical treatment there. It's said that a man from
Asakusa named Danzaemon looked after them. (Akama 100)
As the Shinsengumi men rested and recovered (including Saitou Hajime), a new
headquarters was provided for them-- the former residence of Lord Akizuki
Ukyo no Suke, within Kajibashi Gate. (Akama 101) First to arrive there were
the men who were staying in Shinagawa at the kettle vendor, then the wounded
men. While they rested there, small groups would be sent out for security
duties. On March 5 (Western Calendar-- 2/12 old), Tokugawa Yoshinobu entered
kinshin at Kan'eiji Temple in Ueno, and the Shinsengumi, deploying on a
rotating basis in small units, served as security for him from the 8th to
the 18th of March. (Akama 101) They were relieved of duty because of orders
to deploy to KAI PROVINCE.
Katsu Kaishu, who was in charge of much of Bakufu affairs at the time, was a
supporter of peaceful surrender, so it's said that he ordered Shinsengumi
(supporters of armed resistance) to deploy westward-- to the neighboring Kai
province, which the "Imperial" army was aiming for-- as an expedient for
eliminating them. However, the official Yuuki Munizou indicates that "The
junior councilor Nagai (Naoyuki) came up with the plan...Katsu and the
others were against it at first, but they couldn't do much to resist."
HOWEVER, when Kondou was captured and questioned, he indicated that Okubo
Ichio (NOT the Satsuma Okubo...) had ordered the deployment, so in reality,
it probably wasn't Katsu's or Nagai's order to begin with.
The Shinsengumi Leaders as Daimyo- Status on Paper
On the occasion of their deployment to Kai Province, a promise was made to
Kondou and his men. In a long tradition of such orders (dating back to
pre-Warring States era), IF they could be victorious, they could have the
province for themselves. Kai was Bakufu land worth 1 million koku, and it
was to be divided as such:
Kondou: 100,000 koku
Hijikata: 50,000 koku
The Captains (including Saitou Hajime): 30,000 koku each
Other supervisors: 10,000 koku each
(Akama 102)
There were also other symbols of rank that they were given in a hurry.
Kondou was given the rank of a Bakufu Junior Councilor, and was allowed to
ride in his own palanquin. Hijikata received the rank of a yoriai
(high-ranking hatamoto), and was given a horse (It was also at this time
that he started wearing his hair Western-style). The captains received the
rank and privileges of average hatamoto, and were allowed to wear the riding
caps of hatamoto. (Akama 103)
-At the time, Shinsengumi numbered only around 80 men. To this was to be
added the previously mentioned Danzaemon's unit of 100 men trained in the
Western style, and the unit became the Koyochinbutai-- Kai Province
Pacification Unit. (Akama 102)
The official orders came through on March 21. On the 20th, Shinsengumi had
received 2400 ryo of war funds, along with a number of large cannons and
rifles. With their money and new weapons in hand, they moved out on the
22nd, camping at Naito-Shinjuku, where they joined with Danzaemon's men.
(Akama 102)
On the 24th they stopped at Fuchu, and the next day they paused at Kondou
and Hijikata's old neighborhood of Hino, where they met with Hijikata's
brother in law, Sato Hikogoro. Sato Hikogoro's privately-funded unit of 22
men, the Kasugatai, joined Kondou, and this brought the unit strength up to
200.
On the 27th they went through Sasago Pass, coming to Komakai Village, where
they received the news that the "Imperial" army had entered Kofu Castle--
the center of Kai province. They pressed ahead to nearby Tanaka to
investigate-- and it was at this time that Danzaemon's men-- more than half
the unit strength-- suddenly got up and left. This left the Koyochinbutai
with 121 men. (Akama 103)
At this point, Hijikata went back to Edo to get reinforcements, and Kondou
moved the men to the area of Daizenji Temple, near Katsunuma. Setting up a
barrier, he had the men light watchfires and waited until morning. (Akama
103)
**NAGAKURA's take**
-Nagakura says that the warships were the Fujiyama-maru and Jutoku-maru.
(Nagakura 164)
-Also, he clarifies that "Kamaya" was not a "kettle shop," but it was the
name of a small inn. (Nagakura 165)
-Also says that the HQ Shinsengumi received was the former residence of
Torii Tango no Kami. (Nagakura 165)
-Nagakura says "At Toba-Fushimi, we lost Inoue Genzaburo, Yamazaki Susumu,
Accounting Officer Aoki Makidayu, Corporal Ito Tetsugoro, Ikeda Kotaro, and
around 20 others." (Nagakura 165)
-Yamakawa Kenjiro wrote a letter to Nagakura's son, "The Issue Concerning
Those Responsible for Sakamoto Ryoma's Murder"-- and says that he doesn't
believe that it was Harada. (pp. 238-241)
-Kondou took initiative and on 3/3 (what dating system??) Shinsengumi
acquired a 70-man cavalry unit, the Kibatai (literally "Cavalry Unit"). (p.
170)
-They heard that Kofu Castle has fallen, and then Danzaemon got up and left.
This had them down to 121 men. The men got nervous and approach Harada and
Nagakura, saying "If we don't get reinforced, we don't want to die for
nothing." Harada and Nagakura went to Kondou, who said "It's not good for
them to be un-warrior-ly. By the way, I'm having a unit of 300 Aizu men
reinforce us at dawn." Meanwhile, Hijikata was in Kanagawa, trying to get
ahold of the Natsubatai, a hatamoto unit. (p. 171)
-Iwakura Tomomi was at Kofu Castle and he knew Kondou was near. So he sent
out a messenger who said "Bakufu-Koyochinbutai commander Okubo Takeshi,
Prince Iwakura wants to see you." (Okubo Takeshi was Kondou's assumed name)
And Kondou said "I'll greet him with my guns." (p. 172)
-Nagakura got 10 men and a 20 local hunters and headed to Mukoyama, where
there were imperial troops in a farmer's house. The hunters turned traitor
and started shooting at Nagakura and his men. (p. 172)
-At this point they realized that Kondou had lied about Aizu reinforcements.
(p. 172)
-Everyone started running in the direction of Kobotoke Pass. Nagakura's
detachment caught up-- Harada and Nagakura got horses and tried catching up
with the main unit, and made it to Yoshino-juku. (p. 172)
-Kondou had decided that he was going to make his stand at Yoshino-juku.
Nagakura could not trust Kondou anymore, and so he left, making all the way
to Hachioji before realizing that he still had hopes of joining Aizu and
fighting for the Tokugawa house. So he thought "It can't be helped. I have
to go back to Shinsengumi, talk to Kondou, and convince him to put things in
perspective and head to Aizu." So he returned and spoke with Kondou. Kondou
took a deep breath and went "I want to die in battle at Aizu Castle, myself.
I leave the men to you Nagakura and Harada. Take them back to Edo, and we'll
regroup there." (p. 173)
-The survivors made it to Edo, and headquartered themselves at Okubo Shuzen
no Kami's former residence in Honjo futatsu-me. However, Kondou hadn't made
it back yet, so most of the men slipped away-- leaving Nagakura, Harada,
Shimada Kai, Yada Kennosuke, and others. 10 men in all. (p. 174)
-Nagakura and the others tried regrouping the AWOL men (some of whom were
off in Shin-Yoshiwara), and succeeded in regrouping many of them. They
decided that they were to head to Aizu, where they would make their stand.
They found Kondou-- who had since made it back and was at the Izumi-bashi
Medical Center-- and explained their decision to him. Kondou said, "I will
not be part of any closed-door decisions of yours. I'll only allow this if
you all become my retainers." Nagakura responded with "It is disloyal for a
samurai to serve two masters. I will not become your retainer." Nagakura,
Harada, and Yada left. (pp. 174-175) (NOTE: Bear in mind that the
Shinsengumi "served" the Tokugawa already, having been officially recognized
as hatamoto since 1867)
-Kondou, having thus alienated the last of his former Shinsengumi men, was
joined by Hijikata Toshizo, who helped him raise a force once again. Taking
the name Okubo Yamato, he went to Nagareyama, where, picking up stragglers
from the Bakufu army, he brought his force strength to above 110. It was at
Nagareyama that Kondou fought for the last time and was captured. He tried
to escape under his alias, but in the Imperial camp was Kano Washio
(Michinosuke), who had been a member of Ito Kashitaro's faction-- and who
recognized Kondou immediately. Kagawa Keizou, an Imperial officer, commended
Kondou's bravery and suggested that. he surrender. Kondou replied with "Is
the kangun the Emperor's army or Satsuma and Choshu's army? I can't tell..."
Kondou was executed on Keio 4, 4/25 (Japanese calendar), dying at age 35.
Hijikata Toshizo, upon hearing this, escaped Nagareyama, and fought on,
finally dying in battle at Hakodate in Meiji 2. At death, he was the same
age-- 35. (pp. 175-176)
REFERENCES:
Akama Shizuko, Shinsengumi Saitou Hajime no Subete. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu
Oraisha, 2003.
Nagakura Shinpachi, Shinsengumi Tenmatsu-ki. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha,
2003.
Data on the Jundo-Maru:
http://www2.pref.niigata.jp/kankou/en_sight.nsf/31114b4c20e7417c49256a1c0020319e/bf6f162047702dcd4925709c0022e7bc?OpenDocument
Data on the Fujiyama-Maru:
http://nihonkaigun.modellmarine.de/phpwebsite/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=638
(in German)