江戸の防衛
嘉永六年(1853)六月三日アメリカ使節ペリーは軍艦四隻を率いて相模の浦賀に来航し、和親通商を求め、十二日に一旦退去した。この報せを聞いて江戸市中は大いに動揺し、幕府は浦賀奉行の外、江戸湾警備の彦根、会津、川越、忍の四藩に非常警戒を命ずると共に、固く軽挙をいましめ、一方その対策を協議検討した。萩藩においてはその情報が藩主や重臣の耳に入ったので、幕府から出兵の命令があり次第、直ちに応ずることとした。江戸在中の藩士に戒厳令を下し、壮年子弟等を桜田藩邸内の有備館に召集して親衛の一銃隊を編成して待機した。同年六月五日に幕府から命令があり、七日に多くの藩士が江戸の大森に出張した。
Defense of Edo
In 1853 (the 6th year of Kaei era), on June 3rd, American envoy Perry arrived at Uraga in Sagami with four warships, seeking diplomatic and trade relations, and then temporarily departed on 12th. Upon hearing this news, the city of Edo was greatly unsettled, and the shogunate instructed not only Uraga magistrate, but also the four domains of Hikone, Aizu, Kawagoe, and Oshi to be on high alert in Edo Bay defense. They urged vigilance and at the same time deliberated extensively on
countermeasures. In Hagi domain, this information reached the ears of the feudal lord and senior officials. They decided that as soon as they received the shogunate's order for military action, they would immediately respond to the order.
Hagi domain imposed martial law to the domain's samurai in Edo and gathered prime aged young men at the Yuubi-kan within Sakurada domain residence, forming a defensive unit and standing by for orders.
On June 5th of the same year, orders were received from the shogunate, and on 7th, many samurai traveled to Oomori in Edo.