August 23rd, 1566
Kamo River, near Kyoto, Yamashiro Province
The Ouchi had been stopped at Ozaka castle, but they had managed to seize the rest of Wakasa Province. The Ouchi had opted to advance on Kyoto from the North. The Ouchi proceed to head down the Kamo River via rafts. The Ouchi had set up a camp near a half a day prior on the Western bank of the Kamo River while the Imagawa had a force prepared in Kyoto.
The Ouchi force lead by Sue Harukata and Kikkawa Motoharu had started to advance on Kyoto, the Imagawa force had advanced from Kyoto proper. The Ouchi forces marched in a Hoshi formation while the Imagawa took up a Hoen formation. The Ouchi ranged units remained in formation despite the risk of reduced effectiveness, against the deep formation. Initially, the Ouchi ranged units attacked the formation, but eventually the initial wave of the Ouchi forces came to bear down on the Imagawa.
The fighting initially saw the Ouchi and Imagawa stalemated. However, The Ouchi had gradually gained the upper hand and were on the verge of forcing the Imagawa back and breaking the Koyaku formation, until a force of Imagawa reinforcements led by Matsunaga Hisahide arrived. The Imagawa reinforcements managed to drive the Ouchi back to a position near the Kamo river. The Ouchi began to form an engetsu formation to create a defensive position, to plan their next moves
"Commander is a retreat possible?" asked Motoharu.
"Yes, but we would have to hold the line, but to retreat here means that this war will be lost and if we both stay our lives as well. If we are to retreat I want to you to head across the river while the river still lets us, I'll stay behind and hold them off, tell my lord and my family I have failed," ordered Harukata.
"I understand," replied Motoharu before turning gathering the Ouchi forces who were to retreat, taking the rafts and crossing the river.
As the Ouchi forces began to retreat, Hisahide's forces began their attack. The Imagawa this time wasted no opportunity and charged the Ouchi driving them closer to the Kamo river itself, with the only options being to fight and die or drown in the river. In the fighting, both of the commanders began to clash with one another.
"Ah so I face the true lord of the Ouchi, why do you stay?" asked a curious Hisahide beginning his attack.
"I am a warrior, or does age dull your senses," Harukata shot back, all the while trying to find an opening.
"Heh, I suppose there is no Hell if even traitors can receive a glorious death." This remark infuriated Harukata who at least resolved to take Hisahide down before dying.
However, Harukata was struck down, almost able to strike Hisahide himself, while the rest of the Ouchi troops who fought with him did so to the last man, while Motoharu and the survivors had made it to safety, and began the long march back to Wakasa. The Battle of Kamogawa represented the end of the Ouchi offensive in Honshu and the beginning of an Imagawa counterattack. Roughly two months later the Imagawa would finally retake Wakasa province, before settling for another offensive in the spring to retake more lost ground.
Kamo River, near Kyoto, Yamashiro Province
The Ouchi had been stopped at Ozaka castle, but they had managed to seize the rest of Wakasa Province. The Ouchi had opted to advance on Kyoto from the North. The Ouchi proceed to head down the Kamo River via rafts. The Ouchi had set up a camp near a half a day prior on the Western bank of the Kamo River while the Imagawa had a force prepared in Kyoto.
The Ouchi force lead by Sue Harukata and Kikkawa Motoharu had started to advance on Kyoto, the Imagawa force had advanced from Kyoto proper. The Ouchi forces marched in a Hoshi formation while the Imagawa took up a Hoen formation. The Ouchi ranged units remained in formation despite the risk of reduced effectiveness, against the deep formation. Initially, the Ouchi ranged units attacked the formation, but eventually the initial wave of the Ouchi forces came to bear down on the Imagawa.
The fighting initially saw the Ouchi and Imagawa stalemated. However, The Ouchi had gradually gained the upper hand and were on the verge of forcing the Imagawa back and breaking the Koyaku formation, until a force of Imagawa reinforcements led by Matsunaga Hisahide arrived. The Imagawa reinforcements managed to drive the Ouchi back to a position near the Kamo river. The Ouchi began to form an engetsu formation to create a defensive position, to plan their next moves
"Commander is a retreat possible?" asked Motoharu.
"Yes, but we would have to hold the line, but to retreat here means that this war will be lost and if we both stay our lives as well. If we are to retreat I want to you to head across the river while the river still lets us, I'll stay behind and hold them off, tell my lord and my family I have failed," ordered Harukata.
"I understand," replied Motoharu before turning gathering the Ouchi forces who were to retreat, taking the rafts and crossing the river.
As the Ouchi forces began to retreat, Hisahide's forces began their attack. The Imagawa this time wasted no opportunity and charged the Ouchi driving them closer to the Kamo river itself, with the only options being to fight and die or drown in the river. In the fighting, both of the commanders began to clash with one another.
"Ah so I face the true lord of the Ouchi, why do you stay?" asked a curious Hisahide beginning his attack.
"I am a warrior, or does age dull your senses," Harukata shot back, all the while trying to find an opening.
"Heh, I suppose there is no Hell if even traitors can receive a glorious death." This remark infuriated Harukata who at least resolved to take Hisahide down before dying.
However, Harukata was struck down, almost able to strike Hisahide himself, while the rest of the Ouchi troops who fought with him did so to the last man, while Motoharu and the survivors had made it to safety, and began the long march back to Wakasa. The Battle of Kamogawa represented the end of the Ouchi offensive in Honshu and the beginning of an Imagawa counterattack. Roughly two months later the Imagawa would finally retake Wakasa province, before settling for another offensive in the spring to retake more lost ground.
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