Kumamoto (Satsuma Rebellion).
The castle in this town was besieged February 22, 1876, by the Satsuma rebels, 15,000 strong, under Saigo. The place was gallantly defended by the garrison under General Tani Tateki, though many Samurai deserted to the rebels, and strenuous efforts were made by the Imperial army under Prince Taruhito to come to its relief. In the course of March Saigo was attacked in the rear by a force under General Kuroda, but still maintained the siege, and it was not till April 14, when the garrison was on the verge of starvation, that Kuroda, bringing up every available man, succeeded in driving off the rebels and raising the siege.