Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: N'ọnwa Mee 1861 ọ kpọtara ndị 18th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, ma họpụta ya dị ka onye isi mbụ ya. Oge ya n'ịchị ndị agha na Kentucky na Tennessee bụ ihe arụmụka na "ordeal". Ọ merụrụ ahụ n'oge agha Fort Donelson. N'ọnwa Nọvemba nke afọ 1862, a họpụtara ya ka ọ bụrụ brigadier general, ma nye ya iwu maka otu brigade na Ngalaba nke Abụọ nke XIII Corps. Ọ lụrụ ọgụ n'ụzọ dị iche na Vicksburg Campaign na 1863. Ọ duru ndị ya n'agha ndị a lụrụ na
Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, na Big Black River Bridge. na n'oge mwakpo nke May 22, 1863 na Vicksburg MS, ebe ndị agha n'okpuru iwu ya bụ naanị ndị agha Union ịbanye na Confederate na-arụ ọrụ na Railroad Redoubt ebe ha kụrụ ọkọlọtọ US.