On April 4, coming from Hitoyoshi to the southern suburbs of Yatsushiro along the Kuma-gawa River on land or on boats, the Satsuma army attacked and defeated the government army in Sakamoto Village, and subsequently won battles on the 5th and 6th of the month, closing in on Yatsushiro.
4月4日、人吉から球磨川に沿い、或いは舟で下って八代南郊に出た薩軍は、まず坂本村の官軍を攻撃して敗走させたのを皮切りとして、5、6日と勝利を収め、八代に迫った。