Domyoji 1615 - Battle Among the Tombs

As the Tokugawa army was making their way across the river in pursuit of the remaining Osaka forces from the Heights of Komatsuyama, the fog cleared to reveal the entire Osaka army still blundering forward. On the Osaka left was …

1615-06-05

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As the Tokugawa army was making their way across the river in pursuit of the remaining Osaka forces from the Heights of Komatsuyama, the fog cleared to reveal the entire Osaka army still blundering forward. On the Osaka left was Susukida Kanesuke. Susukida, who was in disgrace at the time of the battle, charged forward near the tomb of Emperor Ingyo and fought valiantly and died in an attempt to redeem his honor. Fighting is also fierce on the right, where Date Masamune, in the area of Emperor Ojin”s Tomb, attacked Sanada Yukimura, in command of the Osaka Army. Having lost two powerful leaders, Sanada Yukimura decided to retreat towards Osaka Castle. Tokugawa Tadateru, the sixth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, is given the order to pursue Sanada's force, but refuses to obey and the Osaka army withdrew in fairly good order.

Dōmyōji, near Tamateyama, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

On June 5, 1615, the Eastern Army of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Osaka Army of Toyotomi Hideyori clashed in battle at Dōmyōji, Osaka. This battle was one of Japan's major historical battles between samurai forces. This battle was one of a number of battles that took place during the Summer Campaign of the Siege of Osaka that led up to the fall of Osaka to the forces of Tokugawa and the death of Toyotomi Hideyori. A vanguard force ahead of the Osaka Army was commanded by Gotō Mototsugu. He had with him a force of 2,800 samurai and his mission was to guard against the arrival of elements of The Eastern Army. The eastern border of Osaka is protected by a natural border known as the Ikoma Mountain Range. Gotō was given the task of guarding the area near Komatsu-yama, a hilly area located near one of very few mountain passes. This pass in the range is created by the Yamato River, which runs just north of Komatsu-yama. He had planned to occupy the high ground provided by the slopes of Komatsuyama and prevent the enemy from freely entering the flat plains of Osaka that exist once past Komatsu-yama.

Wikipedia: Battle of Domyoji

Osaka

Tokugawa