What is true and false in the Last Samurai?

I need to compare The Last Samurai to the real events that occured during the Meiji Restoration. If anyone knows what events in the Last Samurai are true and which are not, please answer this. Any help is appreciated.What is true and false in the Last Samurai?
You should pick up the book The Last Samurai: The life and battles of Saigo Takamori. He is the guy on which the movie is based (not the tom cruise character, the bald samurai leader. Its been a while since i've read it but here are some details that should get you started..





first, the movie is not very accurate





Saigo was born a very poor, low ranking samurai who lived on ';cat **** street'; in the province of Satsuma. he had an eventful life, which included spending time in exile on the ryuku islands (the Okinawa area)





At first he was a supporter of the meji restoration...





and thats about when the movie stops being accurate.





he and his men did not abhor guns, he actually opened schools of western warfare in his home province after the restoration. But i do think he took issue with complete abolishing of the samurai class(check that though i cant find the book) One thing led to another and he and a bunch of disgruntled Samurai rebelled. They used a lot of guns. His force laid siege to an important castle, but i forget the name of it. A Meji Army came to relieve the castle and forced them to retreat.. As Saigo's Army began to run out of ammo they began to use swords. in the end, He and his most loyal men, armed with their swords, charged the Meji muskets on horses, he took a bullet, after which it is said that his servant cut his head off so the enemy wouldn't get it. (I'm more or less certain that all the men involved in this attack were killed, but im not sure so check the book, or maybe the wikipedia about saigo takamori...





(and there was no drunken white guy involved)





hope that helps