Battle of Sangju

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Battle of Sangju
Part of the Imjin War
Date April 24, 1592
Location Sangju, North Gyeongsang, Korea
Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
Japanese forces Korean forces
Commanders
Konishi Yukinaga Yi Il
Strength
Unknown 1000 men
Casualties and losses
less than 100 at least 300
 
Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)
Busan – Tadaejin – Dongnae – Sangju – Ch'ungju – Okpo – 1st Sacheon – Imjin River – Dangpo – Danghangpo – Hansan Island – Pyongyang – Jeonju – Haejeongchang – Busan – Jinju – Pyeongyang – Byeokjegwan – Haengju – Jinju – Busan – Hwawangsan – Chilchonryang – Namwon – Myeongnyang – Jiksan – Ulsan – 2nd Sacheon – Noryang Point

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[edit] Prelude

The battle of Sangju was one of the first Korean battles in the First Invasion of the Imjin War. The Koreans attempted to stop the Japanese invasion and prevent the siege of Ch'ungju Castle. However, the Japanese' superior technology of the arquebuses proved again effective. Like nearly all the Korean generals at the start of the war, Yi Il performed terribly. The Japanese were victorious and pushed on to Chungju.

[edit] Sangju

Yi Il gathered 1,000 men from among the local peasantry in Sangju. Yi Il did not want to be annihilated inside Sangju so he arranged his men on a small hill nearby. When a messenger arrived, warning of the Japanese approach, Yi had him beheaded, so that his announcement would not lower his men's morale.

Yi Il then sent out a scout to locate the position of the Japanese army. Unfortunately, the scout was shot by a Japanese sniper and was killed. When the scout did not return, Yi Il assumed the Japanese were nearby. Soon, the Japanese soldiers under general Konishi Yukinaga appeared. Konishi and his generals then ordered his ashigaru to fire upon the Koreans with arquebuses. Then he had the Japanese charge up the hill. As the Japanese began to charge up the hill, Yi ordered his men to return fire but their arrows fell short. Konishi Yukinaga split his force and began to encircle the Korean emplacement, trying to surround the Koreans. Yi Il knew that his army was going to be destroyed so he turned his horse around, and retreated with his remaining army. Konishi's army killed 300 of the Koreans and were victorious. Konishi then led his men to Chungju for another victory.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.