dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə mˈɛksɪkən ɐmˈɛɹɪkən wˈɔːɹ, hiː ɛnlˈɪstᵻd æz ɐ pɹˈaɪvət ɪnðə sˈɛkənd pˌɛnsɪlvˈeɪniə ˈɪnfəntɹi ˌɔn dᵻsˈɛmbɚ twˈɛnti nˈaɪn, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi sˈɪks, ænd wʌz mˈʌstɚd ˌaʊɾəv ðə vˌɑːləntˈɪɹ sˈɜːvɪs ˌɔn mˈeɪ sˈɪks, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi sˈɛvən.
During the Mexican–American War, he enlisted as a private in the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry on December 29, 1846, and was mustered out of the volunteer service on May 6, 1847.