The Battle of Tabaruzaka began on March 3, 1877 when troops loyal to the Imperial
Meiji government seeking to break the
Siege of Kumamoto Castle met rebel
Satsuma samurai forces seeking to capture the main road out of
Kumamoto. The battle eventually spread across a 6.5 mile line from Tabaruzaka to the
Ariake Sea. Skirmishes occurred for the first of several days of the battle, as both sides continued to bring additional support troops to the area. In the end,
Saigō Takamori's forces would number 15,000, and the
Imperial Japanese Army, led by
Arisugawa Taruhito and
Yamagata Aritomo, On March 20, the rebels were forced to retreat, initially regrouping at
Ueki, and then were driven from that position as well. Final losses at Tabaruzaka were at least 4,000 dead and wounded on both sides. This number included future
Prime Minister of Japan Terauchi Masatake, who was maimed in the course of the battle and lost his right hand. ==Aftermath==