In the same year, he was successively promoted to Chujo Kokoroe (Acting First Lieutenant) then Taijo (Captain), and after Daitaicho (Battalion Chief) of the 1st Infantry Regiment in May 1873, he departed to the front as Army Major, Daitaicho of the 1st Battalion of the 8th Infantry Regiment.
同年中に中尉心得・大尉と進み、1873年5月、歩兵第1連隊大隊長を経ての1877年の西南戦争では陸軍少佐・歩兵第8連隊第1大隊長として出征する。