Battle of Bonari Pass

Battle of Bonari Pass
Part of Boshin War
DateOctober 6, 1868 (1868-10-06)
Location37°35′44.5″N 140°14′34.7″E / 37.595694°N 140.242972°E / 37.595694; 140.242972
Result Imperial victory
Belligerents
Bakufu Army Imperial Japanese Army
Commanders and leaders
Ōtori Keisuke
Hijikata Toshizō
Itagaki Taisuke
Ijichi Masaharu
Murata Tsuneyoshi
Strength
800 7,000
Battle of Bonari Pass is located in Japan
Battle of Bonari Pass
Location within Japan

The Battle of Bonari Pass (Japanese: 母成峠の戦い) was part of the Boshin War, and occurred on the 6 October 1868 (Gregorian Calendar), or the 21st day of the Eighth Month, Keiō-4 year (Japanese calendar). The Bonari pass was a strategic access at the limit of the fief of Aizu.

The battle was between a mixed force of 800 troops – including former shogunate soldiers (Denshūtai and Shinsengumi) led by Ōtori Keisuke and Hijikata Toshizō, Aizu forces, and soldiers of various northern domains — against a much larger number of troops favourable to the Imperial government.

Itagaki Taisuke led his troops, by some estimates numbering as many as 10,000 to 30,000, in a rapid strike against forces defending Aizuwakamatsu Castle.[1] Heading southwest from Nihonmatsu, Itagaki then took a route across Bonari Pass northwards to cross into Aizu.[1]

Outnumbered, the shogunal troops had to retreat to the North to Sendai, where the fleet of Enomoto Takeaki was ready to evacuate them to Hokkaidō. This left Aizu exposed, and facilitated the imperial advance.

Three days later, the Imperial troops reached the castle of Wakamatsu and laid siege to it, in the key action of the Battle of Aizu.

  1. ^ a b Turnbull, Stephen R. (2003). Samurai: The world of the warrior. Oxford: Osprey. p. 177. ISBN 1 84176 740 9.