1896년 을미홍주의병 선봉장 정인희와 정산 전투

Abstract

This study conducted an in-depth comparative analysis of the government troops’ military operation to suppress the First Hongju Righteous Army led by Cheong Inhee, known as the Battle of Jeongsan. Previous academic studies have not addressed the situations faced by both the vanguard leader Cheong Inhee and the government troops; therefore, this study conducted a literature analysis and field work. The governor of Cheongyang-gun, Cheong Inhee, became the leader of the army’s vanguard on January 18, 1896 and formed an army of 2,000 righteous soldiers. Then, Cheong Inhee attacked Gongju-bu, which was within a 41 km distance. The Confucian scholars, including chief advisor Lee Se Young, had assisted under his command and the Station Staff of the Geumjeong Public stage station were key members of the righteous army. However, it was found that they did not have sufficient equipment for the rugged environment and bad weather. They had marched for 18.6 km and stayed at Jeongsan for 3 days. At that time, 50 soldiers in the platoon of Koo Wanhee, among the 100 Gongju-bu government troops, were hidden in ambush at Gongsuwon at the border between Jeongsan and Gongju, and 50 soldiers in the platoon of Paik Rak-Wan defended at the back. The advance party of the righteous army that resumed their advance in the evening of January 21 was ambushed by the government troop’s feint strategy when they reached Gongsuwon and the late-arriving group ran away, at which point they were defeated. The main reason for the defeat was that the government troop, despite being smaller in size, had stronger firepower and their strategy was in a superior position. In academia, Cheolmajeong has been known as the Jeongsan battle area; however, it was confirmed that Jeongsan-gun Gongsuwon (currently Songam-ri, Mok-myeon, Cheongyang-gun) was the Jeongsan battle area. After the defeat, Cheong Inhee was dismissed from the position of governor, and left the Chungnam area. Others, including Lee Se Young who had served under Cheong Inhee, initiated the Second Hongju righteous army rebellion in 1906 following the failed experience of joining the war. Through a comparative analysis of the strategies employed by the government troops and the early Righteous Army, this study is expected to contribute to academic research in military and history, as well as studies on regional history.