Dōmyōji, The Battle Among the Tombs 5th June 1615 - AAR

It's been a little while since Jonathan (Palouse Wargaming Journal) and I got together online for a Samurai game.  So, accepting an invitation to try out this Battle Among the Tombs was a no-brainer.

The starting deployment.  The Osaka army to the north by the tombs and just beyond them.  The Tokugawa forces, having just forded the river, approach the tombs and their enemy.

Background

The Battle of Dōmyōji was one of a number of battles that led to the siege of Osaka. The battle ended with the Osaka army withdrawing toward Osaka Castle after losing key commanders.  Would history be repeated?

The Battle
Jonathan took command of the Osaka Army while I handled the Tokugawa troops.

Both sides began to draw closer and into battle lines whilst also exchanging missile fire.

Tokugawa urged his Samurai foot forward to open up the Osaka right by throwing back their Samurai spear.

Alas, with Ashigaru spear in support the Osaka Samurai threw the attackers back in disarray...

... and leapt forward into the arquebus wielding Teppo unit.  This was not looking good for Tokugawa!  The Teppo were likely to be slaughtered.

However, Teppo valour, doggedness and martial spirit taught the Osaka Samurai a bloody lesson.

With a kind of status quo restored on the right flank, both sides continued the work of organising their lines.  At the same time, Tokugawa's Samurai cavalry were beginning to join the fray.

Having seized the initiative, the Samurai cavalry on the Tokugawa left fell upon the Teppo unit guarding the tomb.

The Osaka Teppo were sent reeling backgrounds.  However, despite having an enemy flank open to attack, the cavalry proved reluctant to make good the advantage.  Nonetheless, the leftmost spear foot sought to crack the Osaka right with a charge.

Despite the best of efforts, the Tokugawa left was thrown back into the woods.  Luckily, they held their position and repulsed their pursuers.
On the right of the line, the Osaka Samurai foot flew at the stubborn Teppo unit only to take more losses and retire.  Determined to break this tenacious end of the Tokugawa line, a spear foot followed their Samurai betters into the melee.

Having shown a level of determination above expectations, the Tokugawa Teppo finally succumbed having shed copious amount of Osaka blood.  With success finally attained the Osaka spear fell on the Samurai cavalry...

... and were speedily repulsed!

A brief pause as lines were redressed.

Grabbing the initiative, the Osaka commanders sought to break the Tokugawa left.  However, one unit was repulsed...

... before the defenders were annihilated.  However, this was not the level of victory initially hoped for.
Meanwhile, on the right flank, the Tokugawa Samurai cavalry crashed into the Osaka foot.

As the Osaka infantry on right of the line took heavy casualties and retired in disorder, their compatriot Samurai cavalry on the left spurred their steeds into the Osaka defenders...

... and rode over them to their utter destruction.  As fortunes were being worked out on the flanks, Tokugawa infantry attacks on the Osaka centre cracked open the defender's line.  The Osaka cavalry prevented a complete debacle.  However, the result amazed everyone.

Seeking to retrieve the situation, the Osaka Samurai cavalry pounded into a Teppo unit.  Now, the Osaka commanders should have known by now to not mess with the Tokugawa Teppo.

And so it was that the Osaka horsemen met a humiliating death.
The Tokugawa left now moved to threaten the flank of the Osaka remnants.  While on the right, the Samurai cavalry ripped into the much depleted Osaka spear; sending them reeling.

A successful pursuit and victory smiled on the Tokugawa army.

A Tokugawa victory!

Afterthought

A really interesting and entertaining scenario.  From much earlier than expected in the game, I found that I had difficult choices and decisions about what to do first and how.

Jonathan had the misfortune to bump into my Teppo units, that should have folded quickly in melee, who gave much better than expected - twice throwing back a Samurai infantry on the right, and finishing off a Samurai cavalry on the left.

Whilst my dice weren't exceptional, the right results arrived at the right time.  This helped my attacks on the Osaka centre achieve such high levels of success.  So startling, that I completely forgot to take screenshots to record the scattering of the Osaka centre.

So, the army score at the end was a 6-1 win for the Tokugawa.  One point away from a major victory.  I'll have to be content with a minor victory.  Nonetheless, the level of enjoyment was such that it felt like a major victory.

Great job, Jonathan, in creating and executing a wonderful and entertaining scenario.