During the Battle of Utsunomiya Castle, he was defeated and forced out of the castle by Keisuke OTORI and Toshizo HIJIKATA, but he recaptured the castle with help of relief soldiers.
宇都宮城の戦いでは、大鳥圭介・土方歳三らに敗れ城を奪われ、救援を得て再び奪還している。