The government army, which consisted of conscripts, was so enthusiastic about fighting against the powerful band of warrior class in Satsuma that it even sent the Gatling gun that had been equipped by Tsugumichi SAIGO for the Taiwan expedition to Kyushu but had a trouble in the essential matter of supplying ammunition for infantry rifle.
台湾出兵時に西郷従道が装備したガトリング砲も九州へ送られるなど、徴兵で構成された政府軍は精強な薩摩士族相手に戦うために、相当な意気込みを見せたが、一番肝心な歩兵銃の弾薬調達でトラブルが発生していた。