Pakutanga kweHondo yeVanhu, Hays akapindazve mubasa semukuru mukuru we63rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, achibatawo chinzvimbo chemukuru mukuru mu16th U.S. Infantry muuto rehurumende kusvika musi waMay 14, 1861. Varume vake vaimuziva kuva "akashinga seshumba". Munguva yePeninsula Campaign, akabatanidzwa nechikwata chake kuchikwata chekutanga cheboka raKearny re III Corps raHeintzelman. Akarwa muhondo dzeYorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Savage's Station
, uye Malvern Hill. Pakupera kweHondo yeMazuva Manomwe, akagadzwa kuva lieutenant colonel muuto remauto nekuda kwekushinga mukuita, sezvo Hays akatungamira bayonet kubhadharisa nehurumende yake mumitsara yevavengi kuti avhare kudzoka kwebhurugwa rake. Hays akamborovha kwenguva pfupi pamusana pokurwara kwapera mwedzi mumwe chete, achitambura nokupofumadzwa uye kuoma rutivi rworuoko rwake rworuboshwe, maronda aakanga awana muhondo.