His drawn sword squad, the best of swordsmen picked up from commissaries, played an active part in defeating the Satsuma Army in a fierce battle at Tabaruzaka and he participated in the battle for capturing Okuchi in May.
激戦となった3月の田原坂の戦いでは警視隊から選抜された抜刀隊が活躍して薩摩軍を退け、5月には大口攻略戦に参加した。