Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna May 1861 akaunganidza 18th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, uye akagadzwa kuva mukuru wayo wokutanga. Nguva yake achitungamirira chikwata muKentucky neTennessee yakanga ine nharo uye "yakakodzera". Akakuvadzwa muhondo yeFort Donelson. MunaNovember 1862 akagadzwa kuva brigadier general, uye akatungamira brigade muChipiri Chikamu cheXIII Corps. Akarwa achibudirira muVicksburg Campaign muna 1863. Akatungamirira varume vake muhondo dzePort Gibson
, Champion's Hill, uye Big Black River Bridge. uye panguva yekurwiswa kwakazara kwaMay 22, 1863 paVicksburg MS, uko mauto ari pasi pekutungamira kwake aive chete mauto eUnion kuti apinde muConfederate anoshanda paRailroad Redoubt kwavakaisa mureza weU.S.