ˈɜːli ɪnðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən sˈɪvəl wˈɔːɹ, æz θˈɜːd mˈæstɚɹ ɪn ˈɑːɹmi ɡˈʌnboʊt sənt. lˈuːi ʌvðə wˈɛstɚn flətˈɪlə, hiː tˈʊk pˈɑːɹt ɪnðə kˈæptʃɚz ʌv fˈɔːɹt hˈɛnɹi, fˈɔːɹt dˈoʊnlsən, ˈaɪlənd nˈoʊ. tˈɛn, mˈɛmfɪs, ænd fˈɔːɹt sənt. tʃˈɑːɹlz.
Early in the American Civil War, as Third Master in Army gunboat St. Louis of the Western Flotilla, he took part in the captures of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Island No. 10, Memphis, and Fort St. Charles.