Upon receiving a report from Yajiro SHINAGAWA, Chief Secretary, that the progress of the battle was disadvantageous to the government army and a report from Major General Iwao OYAMA that Satsuma army might storm into Kumamoto, Sangun YAMAGATA in Kumamoto Castle hastily sent the 4th brigade, which was a reserve troop stationed in Kumamoto Castle, to the battle line.
熊本城にいた山県参軍は品川弥二郎大書記官からの官軍苦戦の報告と大山巌少将からの薩軍が熊本に突出する虞れがあるとの報告を聞き、急遽熊本城にあった予備隊第4旅団を戦線に投入するありさまであった。