 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna August 1861, Breckinridge akabatana neU.S. Army uye akagadzwa kuva mubatsiri-de-musasa kuna George H. Thomas, uye akashanda naye paMill Springs neShiloh. Ndichishanda muKorinde, akagadzwa kuva lieutenant mu2nd US Artillery. Akashanda muAtlanta Campaign, uye akabatwa mushure mekufa kwaJames B. McPherson. Mushure mokutsinhaniswa, akashanda nguva yakasara yehondo semukuru mukuru, uye akagamuchira kukwidziridzwa kwechikwata kumukuru July 1864 uye mukuru March 1865. Akakwidziridzwa kuva mukuru mukuru uye mukuru mukuru muna 1874 na1881. 