When the headquarters in Hitoyoshi was threatened by the offensive of the Government army, Murata made Ikenoue lead the convoy for Saigo to the quarter in Miyazaki, and on June 1, he directed himself to fight the Government army but he was roundly defeated.
政府軍の攻勢で人吉本営が危うくなると、村田は池上に西郷護衛隊を率いて宮崎の軍務所へ赴かせ、6月1日、自ら指揮して政府軍と戦ったが大敗した。