The Taira tied their ships together, and placed planks across them to form a flat fighting surface. The battle began with archers loosing a rain of arrows upon the Minamoto boats; when the boats were close enough, daggers and swords were drawn, and the two sides engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Finally, the Taira, who had brought fully-equipped horses on their ships, swam to the shore with their steeds, and routed the remaining Minamoto warriors.
References
Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.
