Since the garrison had been besieged as long as 40 days and was running short of the provisions and ammunition, it decided to make a sortie to Kawajiri, a southern area, in order to establish communications with the punitive force before it would have been completely exhausted.
籠城が40日にもなり、糧食・弾薬が欠乏してきた鎮台は余力があるうちに征討軍との連絡を開こうとして、南方の川尻方面に出撃することにした。