 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna May 1861, apo nhau dzakasvika dzokuti Virginia yokumusha kwake yakanga yaparadzana, Pegram akasiya basa rake romutevedzeri ndokudzokera kumusha. Mukutanga kwaJuly 1861, akabvuma basa semutungamiri mukuru uye akapiwa mutungamiri we20th Virginia Infantry. Regiment yake yaive chikamu che brigade yaBrig. Gen. Robert S. Garnett uye yakashanda kumadokero kweVirginia kurwisa mauto eUnion pasi paMaj. Gen. George B. McClellan. Musi waJuly 11, 1861, vakaparadzaniswa neboka guru raGarnett panguva yeHondo yeRich Mountain, Pegram nenzira inopokanidzana akaisa chiremera chake chose kuvaFederal. Nokudaro John Pegram akava aimbova mukuru mukuru weU.S. Army wokutanga kubatwa ari mubasa reConfederate. Varume vake vakasunungurwa, asi Pegram akaiswa mutorongo kwemwedzi mitanhatu muFort Warren muchiteshi chengarava cheBoston. 