Early Stages of The Boshin War
In the early months of 1868, Yamakawa was involved in the Aizu domain's restructuring of its military. He was made commander of the reorganized artillery corps (the Hōheitai 砲兵隊), replacing the veteran Hayashi Gonsuke, who had died from wounds sustained at Battle of Toba-Fushimi. Upon his return to the domain, he was appointed a wakadoshiyori (junior councilor) in charge of military finances. In order to shore up the domain's financial situation (which had been in dire straits for over a decade), he brought the skilled engravers Katō Munechika and Akichika, as well as others, to Aizu, and built a smelter inside Tsuruga Castle, casting the three denominations of 1 bun, 2 bun, and 1 ryō coins. Joining with the Shogunate infantry under Infantry Magistrate Otori Keisuke, Yamakawa fought the Tosa forces under Itagaki Taisuke with great effectiveness, and his renown was even to reach the ears of Tani Tateki.
Read more about this topic: Yamakawa Hiroshi
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