The main forces of the Tosando-gun army advancing along the Tosando arrived at Yanada-juku (currently Ashikaga City) on March 31, and made a surprise attack on a unit (the shohotai) consisting of deserters from the former Shogunate Infantry, and defeated it on April 1.
一方、東山道を進んだ東山道軍の本隊は、3月8日に武州熊谷宿に到着、3月9日に近くの梁田宿（現・足利市）で宿泊していた旧幕府歩兵隊の脱走部隊（衝鋒隊）に奇襲をかけ、これを撃破した。