Since we now have 2 lists, and not everyone is in the new one yet, I'm going
to post to both...
I found an article about the Echigo War last night-- the prelude to the
Battle of Aizu. Aizu was deeply involved in this war, and caused a lot of
damage to the "Imperial" side-- apparently, at one point, out of seven
engagements, the "Imperials" only won one. The most crushing victory for the
northern domains was the Battle of Enoki Pass in early July.
If some of you will recall, I mentioned in a translated document a while ago
that Matsudaira Katamori "shouted" at Hijikata to run to Shonai and get
reinforcements. Apparently, Shonai, Aizu, and Yonezawa were the 3 major
domains surrounding Echigo, and also the leading domains in the 10 or so
which formed the "Northern Confederacy".
The most incredible story from the Echigo War is that of Nagaoka Castle. It
sounds like a harbinger of Aizu every time I read about it-- ALL the people
of the domain stood up together against the Satsuma and Choshuu invaders.
Nagaoka fielded 1,500 men. 317 people were killed in action, 266 wounded.
Over 3,000 of its houses were destroyed, its castle was totally wiped off
the face of the earth, and the domain was reduced from a 74,000 koku-sized
territory to one of 24,000.
What the "Imperials" did makes me sick...
--Masayoshi
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