Letter from Hashiba Hideyoshi to Hashiba Hidenaga

After the death of Oda Nobunaga, in March 1583, Hashiba Hideyoshi (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi), an influential member of his group of vassals, and Shibata Katsuie fought the Battle of Shizugatake over who would be Nobunaga’s successor. This letter was sent by Hideyoshi, commanding from Nagahama Castle, to his younger brother Hashiba Hidenaga, who had taken position at the front line of Mt. Tagami (in Kinomotocho, Nagahama City). The letter conveys the atmosphere on the eve of the battle, containing matters such as orders to prep for fighting.