Battle of Hsimucheng

Part of the Russo-Japanese War

Date	31 July 1904
Location	Between Liaoyang and Port Arthur, Manchuria
Result	Japanese victory

Belligerents

Empire of Japan

Imperial Russia

Commanders and leaders

General Nozu Michitsura

Lieutenant General Mikhail Zasulich

Strength

34,000

33,000

Casualties and losses

836

1,217

Russo-Japanese War

Naval battles 1st Port Arthur Chemulpo Bay Hitachi Maru convoy Yellow Sea Ulsan Korsakov Tsushima Land battles Yalu River Nanshan Te-li-Ssu Motien Pass Tashihchiao 2nd Port Arthur Hsimucheng Liaoyang Shaho Sandepu Mukden Sakhalin

The Battle of Hsimucheng (Sekijō-no-tatakai (析木城の戦い), Russian: Бой у Симучена) was a minor land engagement of the Russo-Japanese War. It was fought on 31 July 1904 near Hsimucheng, a hamlet about 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of the strategic junction town of Haicheng, on the main road connecting Haicheng with the coast between elements of the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Russian Army.

Background

The Japanese 5th and 10th Divisions under the command of General Nozu Michitsura’s 4th Army as well as a detachment from the 2nd Army were advancing north towards Liaoyang. This advance was opposed by the Imperial Russian Second Siberian Army Corps under the command of Lieutenant General Mikhail Zasulich, supported by cavalry units under the command of Lieutenant General Pavel Mishchenko.^[1]

Prelude

Following its defeat at the Battle of Tashihchiao, the 2nd Siberian Corps under General Zasulich retreated to the village of Hsimungcheng. General Zasulich had a total of 33 battalions and 80 artillery pieces, but was in an exposed position in mountainous terrain.

The two forces collided at 0200 on 31 July 1904, with the Japanese 10th Division and a reserve brigade making a direct frontal assault on the Russian positions, and the Japanese 5th Division flanking left to threaten the Russian line of retreat.

Description of battle

The Russian forces held out tenaciously through the day and into the night against superior forces. The Japanese 5th Division joined forces with a detachment of the 3rd Division of the 2nd Army sent by General Yasukata Oku to assist, and the Japanese were thus in a position to encircle the Russian force. At 23:00 on 31 July 1904, General Zasulich exercised his standing order from General Alexei Kuropatkin to withdraw to Haicheng, and the Japanese forces were thus able to link up for the next push north towards Liaoyang.

Aftermath

The Battle of Hsimucheng cost the Russian forces 1,217 casualties, and the Japanese forces 836.^[1]

References

Kowner, Rotem (2006). Historical Dictionary of the Russo-Japanese War. ISBN 0-8108-4927-5: The Scarecrow Press.
Connaughton, Richard (2003). "Rising Sun and Tumbling Bear". Cassell. ISBN 0-304-36657-9

Notes

1 2 Kowner, Historical Dictionary of the Russo-Japanese War, p. 151.

Coordinates: 41°16′N 123°11′E / 41.267°N 123.183°E / 41.267; 123.183

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