Battle of Shiroyama

The Battle of Shiroyama took place on September 24, 1877, near Tahara-zaka hill in Kagoshima, Japan.

300,000 imperial troops under the command of Sumiyoshi Kawamura armed with rifles engaged several hundred samurai under the leadership of Saigo Takamori. These brave few were all that remained of his mighty 25,000 warriors, which had besieged the government garrison in the city of Kumamoto six weeks earlier.

This bloody last stand of the Satsuma Rebellion was unsatisfactory for those involved. Logistical problems forced Saigo to defend his position without any cannon, or major rifle support. Regardless of this a near heroic attempt from the samurai, while under heavy fire, was made to make it inside the lines of the imperial army and fight at will where the hand to hand fighting would cause mass panic. This was met with some success. For a short time this confusion worked to help Saigo's line hold. The army would not make this mistake again and finished Saigo's men off at a safe range.

The situation was now very grim. The battle came to a sudden halt when Saigo was hit with a near fatal shot to his femoral artery. It is amazing that he went almost the entire battle without a scratch. A small remnant stood with him, falling back into the nearby woods to a calm place where Saigo could meet his end in peace. One of his fellow samurai assisted him in seppuku before he could be captured.

Twelve years after his death Emperor Meiji gave Saigo a full pardon and restored him to his former rank. A statue in Kagoshima's Central Park stands in his memory.