 On April 13, 1861, he volunteered to be an assistant surgeon for the Fifth Regiment, South Carolina Infantry Volunteers under Colonel Jenkins.He was then placed in charge of the Fourth Division of the Winder Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, where he served three years and was promoted to the rank of surgeon.He requested lighter duty and was transferred to the 20th Regiment of Virginia surgeons under General Braxton Bragg at Milledgeville, Georgia.