The Ravine Near Saigadake 1572

After his retreat to Hamamatsu castle, the Takeda army leaders suspected a trick and did not attack the castle, when they saw the open castle gate, light of the fires and heard the Tokugawa drums. The army, instead, pulled back …

1573-01-25

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After his retreat to Hamamatsu castle, the Takeda army leaders suspected a trick and did not attack the castle, when they saw the open castle gate, light of the fires and heard the Tokugawa drums. The army, instead, pulled back and set up camp near Saigadake. That night, a volunteer Tokugawa force was gathered and attacked the Takeda camp. After a short exchange, the volunteer force retired as planned. The Takeda soldiers followed, but not knowing the area were led to a deep ravine and onto a dummy bridge covered in cloth. Scores of Takeda soldiers fell into the ravine and were cut down.

Hamamatsu Castle, Japan

The Battle of Mikatagahara was a battle of the Sengoku period of Japan fought between Takeda Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu in Mikatagahara, Tōtōmi Province on 25 January 1573. Shingen attacked Ieyasu at the plain of Mikatagahara north of Hamamatsu during his campaign against Oda Nobunaga while seeking a route from Kōfu to Kyoto. The Tokugawa-Oda force was almost totally annihilated by the Takeda after being encircled and many of Ieyasu's retainers were killed in the battle. Ieyasu and his surviving men were forced to retreat before launching a minor counterattack to delay Shingen's march towards Kyoto.

Wikipedia: Battle of Mikatagahara

Tokugawa

Takeda