Hakodate War (2/2)The last battle of the Boshin War, Hijikata Toshizo dies

Furthermore, before Takeaki landed in Ezo, he submitted a petition to the new government. As the new government army reduced the Tokugawa family's territory to 700,000 koku in Suruga and Totomi, it became difficult to support the former shogun's vassals, so Takeaki had the former shogun's vassals settle in Ezo, developing Hokkaido and defending against Russia. It was written that I wanted to carry it. Takeaki also submitted a petition to the new government on December 1st requesting the development of Ezo land, but the new government rejected this petition.

On December 15th, the former shogunate army established the Hakodate government. The so-called "Ezo Republic" was established. The president is Takeaki Enomoto. The former shogunate army included former feudal lords and former shogunate retainers, making the hierarchical relationship complicated, and because it was a collection of small groups with a variety of ideas, the president was determined by vote. However, the voters were officers of the former Shogunate army and above, and residents of Hakodate did not participate. As a result of the vote, Taro Matsudaira, a former army magistrate, was appointed as vice president. Ikunosuke Arai was chosen as the naval magistrate, and Keisuke Otori was chosen as the army magistrate. By the way, Toshizo Hijikata served as army magistrate.

The Republic of Ezo was not called by the former Shogunate army, but because foreigners such as the British, French, and Americans used the expression ``Republic'', it later spread as a colloquial name. After Hakodate opened as a port under the Treaty of Peace and Amity between Japan and the United States, it developed as an international trading port, and there were diplomatic embassies of various countries in Hakodate, where foreigners were stationed.

During the Boshin War, countries such as Britain, France, and the Netherlands took the position of ``external neutrality,'' meaning that they did not take sides in the civil war. In order to maintain this, Takeaki developed foreign policy while making use of his experience studying abroad in the Netherlands. As a result, we obtained a memorandum of understanding from the two countries of Britain and France stating their neutrality and ``recognizing Japan as a de facto government.''

Hakodate War ② Battle of Miyako Bay

Meanwhile, the new government army, which had captured Hakodate by the former shogunate army, sent troops to Aomori and prepared to attack Ezochi. At the top is Akiyoshi Yamada, who has been active in previous battles including the battles of Toba and Fushimi. Because of the heavy snow in winter, they decided to wait for the snow to thaw in Aomori before attacking Hokkaido. Then, on March 9, the warships and transport ships of the new government's fleet departed from the coast of Shinagawa and headed for Aomori.

When the former Shogunate army learned of this, they planned to steal the new government's fleet, so they headed for Miyako Bay (central Iwate Prefecture) with three warships, where the new government's fleet was located. However, they encountered a rainstorm, one ship was missing, and the other had trouble with its steam engine. The remaining ship launched a surprise attack, but was defeated by the new government's counterattack.

The new government fleet then arrives at Aomori and prepares to head to Hokkaido. On April 6th, 1,500 new government troops led by Akiyoshi Yamada departed from Aomori. It will land in Otobe (Otobe Town, Ershi District, Hokkaido) on April 9th. The main battle of the Hakodate War has finally begun in Hokkaido.

Hakodate War ③ Hakodate Landing Battle

The former shogunate forces learned of the new government's landing and dispatched troops to prevent it, but were defeated by attacks from the landing troops and the new government's navy. The former Shogunate forces in Esashi were also bombarded by the new government's navy, and although they counterattacked, their shells did not reach the enemy ships. The difference in weapon specs was obvious. The former Shogunate army retreated to Ishizaki Village (Kaminokuni Town, Hiyama District, Hokkaido).

After capturing Esashi, the new government army received reinforcements from army staff, Kiyotaka Kuroda, and others, and moved the army to Matsumae (south along the coast), Kikonai (slightly south, then over the mountains and west), Futamataguchi ( The army will be divided into three parts (proceeding west). Fierce battles take place in various locations from April 10th to 25th, but the former Shogunate forces retreat due to damage from reinforcements from the new government forces and artillery fire from naval fleets. On April 17th, the former shogunate army abandoned Matsumae Castle and fled to Shiranai. On April 20th, the former shogunate army in Kikonai was attacked by the new government army and retreated from Kikonai. Afterwards, reinforcements from the former shogunate army recaptured Kikonai, but in the end they abandoned Kikonai due to their geographical advantage. After that, the Matsumae and Kikonai units of the new government forces joined together and attacked Yafurai on April 29th. The former shogunate army lost 160 soldiers due to naval gunfire from the new government army, and began to flee to Hakodate.

Hijikata Toshizo was encamped with 300 soldiers at Futamataguchi and fought against 500 new government troops. On April 14th, after a fierce battle, the new government army was defeated. Hijikata's team continued to fire their rifles in the rain, and it is said that they fired as many as 35,000 bullets in 16 hours. After that, Hijikata's army continued to repel repeated attacks by the new government forces, but after the former Shogunate forces were defeated by the new government forces at Yafurai, there was a risk of being cut off from their retreat, so they retreated towards Hakodate. Masu.

Hakodate War ④ Goryokaku falls in the all-out attack on Hakodate

The new government forces prepared for an all-out attack against the former Shogunate forces that had retreated to Goryokaku in Hakodate. The former Shogunate forces conducted night attacks, but all failed. Then, on May 11th, the new government forces began an all-out attack on Hakodate from both land and sea.

In the attack from land, the new government army surrounded Goryokaku from three directions. Furthermore, in the early morning hours, a unit led by Kiyotaka Kuroda, who had secretly landed behind Mt. Hakodate, launched a surprise attack and occupied Mt. Hakodate. On the other hand, the former Shogunate army, based at Cape Benten Daiba facing Hakodate Bay, moved south and tried to recapture Mt. Hakodate, but had a difficult time. With support fire from the new government's fleet from Hakodate Bay, Cape Benten Daiba was almost completely destroyed, and most of the former shogunate forces retreated to Ippongi Kanmon and then to Goryokaku.

In this way, the new government forces controlled Hakodate and launched an attack on the Ippongi barrier. Meanwhile, Toshizo Hijikata led a group of the former Shogunate army to rescue Cape Benten Daiba. However, as he entered the Ippongi barrier and passed Ikoku Bridge, he was hit by a bullet from the new government army and fell off his horse, losing his life (there are various theories). He was 34 years old when he passed away. Afterwards, Deputy Governor Taro Matsudaira attempted to recapture Hakodate, but in the end he was forced to withdraw to Goryokaku.

At the same time, the new government forces also launched an attack on Shiryokaku, which had been established approximately 2 km northeast of Goryokaku, and the former Shogunate army was routed and retreated to Goryokaku.

In the battle at sea, three ships of the former shogunate army and six ships of the new government army fought. Although the former shogunate army had their warship Chiyodagata captured by the shogunate, they ran Kaiten aground on the rapids and used it as a floating gun battery. In addition, Banryu sank the new government's Asahi, but Banryu was damaged and became unusable. The naval battle ended with victory for the new government forces.

The new government forces, which had gained control of the sea, began bombarding Goryokaku from May 12th. Although the artillery fire from Goryokaku did not reach the ships, the artillery fire from the ships was quite powerful, and the shells hit the drum turret of the magistrate's office building inside Goryokaku. After that, on May 15th, Cape Benten Daiba surrendered to the new government forces as they ran out of supplies. At Chiyogatai Jinya, an outpost of Goryokaku, Saburosuke Nakajima, who was on par with the Hakodate magistrate, made a desperate resistance but was defeated and killed.

From May 12, when the new government's forces were able to see a general trend, they recommended Takeaki Enomoto to surrender. Takeaki refused, saying that unless the Tokugawa family's development of Ezo land was approved, he would not surrender, but in response to the surrender of Cape Benten Daiba, etc., he decided to surrender on May 16th. At this time, he takes responsibility for the defeat and tries to commit seppuku to plead for the lives of his subordinates, but is stopped by his subordinates.

Then, on May 17, Takeaki, Taro Matsudaira, and others reported to the Kameda scouting post near Goryokaku, met with Kiyotaka Kuroda of the new government army, and agreed to surrender. Goryokaku was surrendered at noon on the 18th. This brought an end to the Hakodate War and ended the two-year Boshin War.

After the Hakodate War, Takeaki Enomoto was imprisoned in Tokyo, but he was granted an amnesty in 1872 (Meiji 5) and was released from prison. After working hard to develop Hokkaido under Kiyotaka Kuroda as a development envoy, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and focused on diplomacy as Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia. The Sakhalin-Chishima Exchange Treaty was concluded. After the formation of the Cabinet, he served as Minister of Communications, Education, Foreign Affairs, and Agriculture and Commerce. Then, on October 26, 1908 (Meiji 41), he passed away due to illness. He passed away at the age of 73.