Following the landing of Akiyoshi YAMADA on May 20, Kuroda landed on Esashi on May 30 and took command of troops in the last battle against the army of the former bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun).
4月9日に上陸した山田顕義に続き、黒田も19日に江差に上陸して旧幕府軍との最後の戦いの総指揮をとった。