BatRep: Battle Among the Tombs

Background

The Battle of Dōmyōji, fought on 05 June, 1615, was one of the decisive engagements of the Summer Campaign of the Siege of Osaka. The battle began as a delayed, fog-shrouded clash near Komatsuyama and ended with the Osaka army withdrawing toward Osaka Castle after losing key commanders.  Dōmyōji is remembered because it shows the last major efforts of the Toyotomi defenders to use terrain, timing, and local counterattacks to blunt Tokugawa superiority. The battle also foreshadowed the end of the Osaka campaign.  The defenders could still fight hard and inflict losses, but once key commanders fell, they could no longer hold the approaches indefinitely.

Osaka’s goal is to hold for a limited number of turns, inflict losses, and then disengage in good order.  Tokugawa’s goal is to break through the river line and destroy enough of the Osaka force to prevent an orderly withdrawal.  The battle begins with the Tokugawa Army already across the Ishigawa River.  Driven off Komatsuyama heights and back across the river, the Osaka Army awaits near the Imperial tombs. 

Initial deployments

The Tokugawa Army (led by Richard) has four commands.  The four Sonae are denoted by blue and green VBU dice to distinguish between each command.  The Osaka Army (led by me) has three commands.  Osaka Sonae are shown with red and black VBU dice.  

Battle

The battle opens with the Tokugawa Army advancing on the right toward Ingyo's tomb.  Osaka Army counters by moving up Susukida's Sonae to cover the left of Sanada's exposed Teppo.  The large blue die shows the activation of Katsushige's Sonae.  Tokugawa continues a general advance toward the enemy as the two battle lines begin to form up.

The armies close...

as the battle lines form up.

With the enemy now within striking distance, Katsushige leads an attack with his Samurai against Susukida.  The target of this attack is the enemy Samurai but they are supported by Ashigaru spearmen.  Katsushige's attack is repulsed and the Samurai spearmen retreat out of the Tokugawa battle line.  

Not wasting an opportunity, Susukida counterattacks in pursuit of the retreating Tokugawa Samurai.  Pursuit brings the Samurai into contact with Katsushige's now exposed teppo.  Firing as the enemy closes upon them, the teppo wreak heavy damage upon the enemy as they come in.  Seeing the destruction thrown out by this body of determined troops, the Osaka Samurai retire before they actually can close with the enemy.  Osaka archers in the woods cut down many Tokugawa archers as they approach the tomb.

Katsushige repulsed!

Susukida pursues...

but is stopped cold by enemy firepower...

and head back to where they began!

View down the battle lines.

Susukida refuses to give up so easily after his Samurai are repulsed.  He sends forward the Ashigaru spear to dispatch with those pesky teppo.  The Ashigaru handle the job that the Samurai could not.  The enemy teppo are scattered and put to flight.  Flushed with success, the Ashigaru pursue as expected.  What is unexpected is that these spearmen crash into Tadamasa's Samurai cavalry as the horsemen move up from the ford.  Tadamasa's horsemen manhandle the Ashigaru driving them back in a succession of retreats and pursuits.  As the Ashigaru finally stop, having rejoined the Osaka battle line, Tadamasa's Samurai stops the pursuit.      

Teppo destroyed!

The hunter...

becomes the hunted!

Is all quiet on the Tokugawa Left?  No!

Masamune brings up his sonae on the left near Emperor Ojin's tomb.  In a combined arms attack, Masamune's teppo soften up the enemy teppo before leading his Samurai cavalry in a charge.  The enemy is battered and forced back but the Samurai do not pursue.  In an effort to stabilize the deteriorating situation, Kitikawa leads his Samurai foot into Masamune's Samurai foot.  The result is not what Kitikawa hoped.  His Samurai are beaten and retreat in disarray.  Kitikawa's attack is not without merit, though.  Having inflicted some pain on the enemy Samurai, Kitigawa's Ashigaru spearmen are sent forward.  The Tokugawa Samurai have seen enough and are driven back beyond the Tokugawa battle line.  The Osaka Ashigaru follow up in hot pursuit.   

Tokugawa cavalry drive away enemy teppo...

but the Osaka counterattacks, fails, and tries again.

Finally, Masamune's Samurai are driven off!

Having caught its breath, Masamune's body of cavalry plows back into the enemy teppo.  This time, the outcome is never in doubt.  What remains of the enemy are cut down mercilessly.

Masamune charges...

and the enemy breaks!

At this point in the battle, the honors look about even.  Appearances are fleeting and it all is about to unravel for the Osaka Army.  Returning to the Tokugawa Right, Katsushige leads his Samurai horsemen back into the Osaka line.  Even with support, Susukida's Samurai foot are pushed back.  His supporting Ashigaru follow suit.  Katsushige pursues, catching the retiring enemy.  Katsushige sees success again!  The enemy's orderly retrogrades turn into retreats.  The Osaka Left has collapsed!

Katsushige charges...

and charges again.
The enemy retreat in disarray.

Now, Tadaaki, leading his sonae of three Ashigaru spear in the center, attacks the Osaka line!

His rightmost spear unit goes in against the end of the Osaka line.  Without support, Sanada's Ashigaru are forced back.  The attackers pursue driving the enemy back again!  Seeing this success, Tadaaki pushes the next Ashigaru spear into the enemy.  Those spearmen see similar success.  A second unit of Osaka spearmen are pushed back and then put to flight in pursuit.  The entire Osaka Center is collapsing!  Tadaaki does not stop now.  His third Ashigaru unit crashes into the enemy.  Again, the enemy is driven back and then destroyed in pursuit.  The Osaka Center is wiped out!

Tadaaki attacks...

and attacks...

and attacks to break the Osaka Center!

In hot pursuit of the enemy, this body of Tokugawa spearmen collide into Sanada's cavalry.  The Ashigaru are beaten badly and are put to flight.  In perhaps a last-ditch effort to stabilize the center, Sanada pursues with his cavalry even though his horsemen have suffered losses.  Pursuit carries him into rough ground facing enemy teppo.  The teppo deliver a devastating volley into the horsemen and many fall to the ground.  With fewer horsemen to carry on the charge and hindered by the rough terrain, Sanada's charge is stopped.  His body of Samurai horsemen are scattered.  Sanada is lucky to escape with his life.

Sanada drives off the enemy spearmen...

and sets off in hot pursuit.

Sanada's Samurai are cut down in dramatic fashion. 

With the Osaka right and Center basically gone, Susukida makes a desperate attack against Tadamasa's cavalry.  The result is as expected.  Susukida's spearmen are repulsed.  To encourage the Osaka Army to quit the field, Tokugawa Ashigaru emerges from the woods to attack and destroy one more Osaka unit.  That is all of the convincing that Sanada needs to retire from the field.

Last ditch effort...

gains nothing!

With the Osaka Army Breakpoint clock reduced to zero, Sanada and the remnants of the Osaka Army withdraw back to Osaka castle.  An historical outcome.

Osaka Army breaks!

Victory to the Tokugawa Army and Richard!  Well played!  With a breakpoint differential of '6', the Tokugawa Army narrowly misses attaining a Major Victory.  If either of the Imperial tombs had been in Tokugawa hands, a Major Victory would have been awarded.

Time runs out for the Osaka Army.

Osaka Army collapses.

What an exciting contest!  Early on, I thought my Osaka might see success.  As proven soon thereafter, those thoughts were both premature and fleeting.  Game duration was a little over two hours playing time.

Richard is a tough and canny opponent.  His attack in the center quite literally tore the Osaka Center to shreds.  Congratulations, Richard, on delivering a convincing victory for the Tokugawa Army.  To read Richard's battle account, please visit, Dōmyōji, The Battle Among the Tombs.

Thank you, Richard, for a great game!