The Akita Domain, together with the samurai warriors of the Saga Domain deployed as reinforcements, fought a defensive war, but fell behind; the Shonai Domain in particular advanced deep into the Akita Domain and even captured subsidiary castles of Kubota Castle; the Akita Domain, however, prevailed due to the arrival of reinforcements from the new government's forces, and launched a counterattack.
援軍として派遣されていた佐賀藩兵と共同で防衛戦を行うも劣勢で、特に庄内藩には領内深くまで攻め込まれ久保田城の支城までが落とされたが、新政府軍の増援が来着したことで優勢となり反撃を行った。