Saigo was asked to take command because the war was not progressin well, and on July 23 he was appointed the Sosasihiki commander of the Satsuma Domain army going to Hokuriku, and on August 2, he sailed from Kagoshima and arrived at Kashiwazaki, Echigo Province on 10th.
北陸道軍の戦況が思わしくないため、西郷の出馬が要請され、7月23日、薩摩藩北陸出征軍の総差引（司令官）を命ぜられ、8月2日に鹿児島を出帆し、10日に越後国柏崎に到着した。