 Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Akaberekerwa muBrechin, Scotland, akauya kuUnited States muna 1843, uye akarererwa muCincinnati. Akapedza kudzidza ari wechipiri mukirasi ya1863 paWest Point uye akapinda muuto revanjiniya. Munguva yehondo yevagari vemo, akashanda mumushandirapamwe wa1864 kurwisa Richmond, Virginia; aive injinjini mukuru weGeneral Benjamin Butlers Army of the James panguva yekuvakwa kweDutch Gap Canal; uye aive pamusoro pemabasa ese einjiniya yekoramu yekuruboshwe paHatchers Runuye mukutevera uto raGeneral Robert E. Lee. 