Pettus served in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. During the Stones River Campaign, he was captured by Union soldiers on December 29, 1862, and exchanged a short time later for Union soldiers.<unk> During the Stones River Campaign, he was captured by Union soldiers on December 29, 1862, and exchanged a short time later for Union soldiers. Pettus was captured again on May 1, 1863, while part of the surrendered garrison that had been defending
Port Gibson in Mississippi<unk> ąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąąą Pettus was promoted to colonel on May 28, and given command of the 20th Alabama.