Battle of Hitotoribashi | |
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{{{image}}} {{{caption}}} | |
Conflict: Campaigns of Date Masamune | |
Date: 1585 | |
Place: northern Japan | |
Outcome: Date victory | |
Combatants | |
Hatakeyama Clan | Date Clan |
Commanders | |
Hatakeyama Yoshitsugu | Date Masamune Hitoshi Sagetsu† |
Strength | |
30,000 | 7,000 |
Casualties | |
All butchered or escaped | few |
The Battle of Hitotori-Bashi was an enagement fought to avenge Date Terumune.
Battle[]
The Date riflemen let the Hatakeyama superior force approach before shooting them down. Then, they drew swords to go into melee with the enemy forces. Date minister Hitoshi Sagetsu joined the battle on horseback, despite the pleas of Masamune not to. Sagetsu was, however, hit in the lower left rib by a javelin and died. Masamune rode out himself to fight the enemy soldiers to avenge his friend. He rallied his forces, who charged and cut through the enemy ranks. Masamune, after killing the enemy commander, found his minister, who died in his arms.