Battle of Tashihchiao
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Tashihchiao (Jpn. 大石橋の戦い Taisekihashi no Tatakai) was a small-scale land engagement fought on 24 July - 25 July 1904, during the Japanese
advance toward Liaoyang
in first stage of the Russo-Japanese War
. Tashihchiao (modern Dashiqiao) is located about 25 kilometers [16 miles] southwest of the city of Haicheng
, in present-day Liaoning Province, China
. The town of Tashihchiao was of strategic importance in the Russo-Japanese War, as it was a railroad junction between the main line on the South Manchurian Railway and a spur which led to the old treaty port of Yingkou
(Newchwang). Control of both was essential for further advances by Japanese forces towards Liaoyang and Mukden.
On the Japanese side were the 3rd, 5th and 6th Divisions of the Japanese Second Army under General Yasukata Oku. After the victory at the Battle of Telissu, General Oku rested for 4 days for re-supply, and to bring his 6th Division up to full strength. By 6 July 1904, he was ready to move north again, and his four divisions reached the outskirts of Kaiping
on 7 July 1904, and through night movements, were into the hills behind Kaiping by the morning of 9 July 1904. General Oku waited there for re-supply and was prepared for either combat or twenty additional days of marching on 23 July 1904.
On the Russian side was the First Siberian Army Corps under Lieutenant General Georgii Stakelberg (consisting of surviving forces from the disaster at Telissu, which had retreated north towards Liaoyang
, but which had received new orders diverting them to Kaiping, which they occupied on 20 June 1904), and the Fourth Siberian Army Corps under Lieutenant General Nikolai Zarubaev, entrenched behind Kaiping to the north at the town of Tashihchiao. The total strength of the Russian forces was roughly 20,000 men.
General Alexei Kuropatkin had personally overseen the defenses at Tashihchiao. Stakelberg's forces were on the right, with clear field of fire and isolated hills which provided strategically placed observation posts. Zarubaiev's forces were on the more vulnerable left, which was hilly and full of ravines.
General Oku moved with uncharacteristic caution, as the geography did not favor his usual tactic of flanking maneuvers. Instead, he issued orders for the 3rd, 5th, and 6th Divisions to make a full frontal assault, with the 4th Division left out on far left as both a diversion and a reserve. The combat began at 0530 on 24 June 1904, with a long artillery duel. As temperatures soared past 34 °C, the Russians began to suffer from the effects of the heat. A nervous Stakelberg repeatedly asked Zarubaiev about withdrawing. Japanese forces began probing attacks by noon. However, by 1730, although the Japanese had suffered heavy casualties due to strong Russian artillery fire, they had not been successful in dislodging the Russians from any of their entrenched positions.
The battle was determined at 2200 with a night attack by the 5th Division; by the afternoon of 25 June 1904, the town of Tashihchiao was in Japanese hands. Stakelberg had again conducted a brilliant retreat under fire.
There are wildly varying accounts on the number of casualties at the Battle of Tashihchaio, but historical consensus indicates about a thousand on each side.
Predictably, Viceroy
Yevgeni Alekseyev was infuriated by Stakelberg’s withdrawal, and Kuropatkin supported his subordinate. General Oku remained at Tashihchaio until 1 August 1904, when he again marched northward with 3 divisions (the 5th Division having been transferred to the new Japanese 4th Army under General Nozu Michitsura
.
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
advance toward Liaoyang
Liaoyang
Liaoyang is a city in China, Liaoning province, located in the middle of the Liaodong Peninsula. The city is situated on the T'ai-tzu River and forms with Anshan a built up area of 2,057,200 inhabitants in 2010....
in first stage of the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
. Tashihchiao (modern Dashiqiao) is located about 25 kilometers [16 miles] southwest of the city of Haicheng
Haicheng
Haicheng is a county-level city of central Liaoning province, Northeast China. It is located about southwest of Shenyang, the provincial capital, and is under the administration of Anshan City, the seat of which lies to the northeast....
, in present-day Liaoning Province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The town of Tashihchiao was of strategic importance in the Russo-Japanese War, as it was a railroad junction between the main line on the South Manchurian Railway and a spur which led to the old treaty port of Yingkou
Yingkou
Yingkou is located in the northwestern portion of the Liaodong Peninsula, and on the left bank of the Daliao River, which enters the sea in the city. To the west is the Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Gulf, and the city thus looks across to Jinzhou and Huludao...
(Newchwang). Control of both was essential for further advances by Japanese forces towards Liaoyang and Mukden.
On the Japanese side were the 3rd, 5th and 6th Divisions of the Japanese Second Army under General Yasukata Oku. After the victory at the Battle of Telissu, General Oku rested for 4 days for re-supply, and to bring his 6th Division up to full strength. By 6 July 1904, he was ready to move north again, and his four divisions reached the outskirts of Kaiping
Kaiping
Kaiping : Hoi3 Pen6) or Hoi Ping is a county-level city in Guangdong Province, southern China. It has a population of 680,000 as of 2003 and an area of 1,659 km². The locals speak a variation of the Taishan dialect.-Administration:...
on 7 July 1904, and through night movements, were into the hills behind Kaiping by the morning of 9 July 1904. General Oku waited there for re-supply and was prepared for either combat or twenty additional days of marching on 23 July 1904.
On the Russian side was the First Siberian Army Corps under Lieutenant General Georgii Stakelberg (consisting of surviving forces from the disaster at Telissu, which had retreated north towards Liaoyang
Liaoyang
Liaoyang is a city in China, Liaoning province, located in the middle of the Liaodong Peninsula. The city is situated on the T'ai-tzu River and forms with Anshan a built up area of 2,057,200 inhabitants in 2010....
, but which had received new orders diverting them to Kaiping, which they occupied on 20 June 1904), and the Fourth Siberian Army Corps under Lieutenant General Nikolai Zarubaev, entrenched behind Kaiping to the north at the town of Tashihchiao. The total strength of the Russian forces was roughly 20,000 men.
General Alexei Kuropatkin had personally overseen the defenses at Tashihchiao. Stakelberg's forces were on the right, with clear field of fire and isolated hills which provided strategically placed observation posts. Zarubaiev's forces were on the more vulnerable left, which was hilly and full of ravines.
General Oku moved with uncharacteristic caution, as the geography did not favor his usual tactic of flanking maneuvers. Instead, he issued orders for the 3rd, 5th, and 6th Divisions to make a full frontal assault, with the 4th Division left out on far left as both a diversion and a reserve. The combat began at 0530 on 24 June 1904, with a long artillery duel. As temperatures soared past 34 °C, the Russians began to suffer from the effects of the heat. A nervous Stakelberg repeatedly asked Zarubaiev about withdrawing. Japanese forces began probing attacks by noon. However, by 1730, although the Japanese had suffered heavy casualties due to strong Russian artillery fire, they had not been successful in dislodging the Russians from any of their entrenched positions.
The battle was determined at 2200 with a night attack by the 5th Division; by the afternoon of 25 June 1904, the town of Tashihchiao was in Japanese hands. Stakelberg had again conducted a brilliant retreat under fire.
There are wildly varying accounts on the number of casualties at the Battle of Tashihchaio, but historical consensus indicates about a thousand on each side.
Predictably, Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
Yevgeni Alekseyev was infuriated by Stakelberg’s withdrawal, and Kuropatkin supported his subordinate. General Oku remained at Tashihchaio until 1 August 1904, when he again marched northward with 3 divisions (the 5th Division having been transferred to the new Japanese 4th Army under General Nozu Michitsura
Nozu Michitsura
-External links:...
.