About four thousand soldiers from the central and rear forces of the Imperial army stationed at three locations to the west of Kitakami-gawa River crossed the river and marched along the east bank.
北上川の西に3箇所に分かれて駐屯していた朝廷軍のうち、中軍と後軍の4,000名が川を渡って東岸を進んだ。