Although Ieyasu was placed in a disadvantageous position in view of military forces, he made Tadatsugu SAKAI defeat the troop led by Nagayoshi MORI, a military commander of the Hashiba's forces, before Hideyoshi arrived at Komaki City (the Battle of Haguro).
家康は兵力的に不利であったが、秀吉が小牧市に到着する前に羽柴軍の武将・森長可率いる軍勢を酒井忠次に命じて撃破させた（羽黒の戦い）。