Approximately 1,000 soldiers of the troop led by IKEGAMI were dispatched to the Mitai area on May 4 to support the NOMURA's troop, then part of the force was assigned to the role of guarding Mitai, located in a transportation route between Hitoyoshi, the stronghold of the Satsuma army, and Nobeoka, while the main force was advanced eastward to Nobeoka.
これを後援するために5月4日に三田井方面に派遣された池上指揮部隊約1000名は、薩軍の本拠地人吉と延岡の交通路にあたる三田井の警備に部隊の一部を当て、主力は東進して延岡に進出した。