ˌɔn θˈɜːɾi wˈʌn ɑːktˈoʊbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti wˈʌn, dˈaʊni ɛnlˈɪstᵻd ɪnðə jˈuːniən ˈɑːɹmi fɚðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən sˈɪvəl wˈɔːɹ, dʒˈɔɪnɪŋ θˈɜːd mˈɛɹɪlˌænd ˈɪnfəntɹi ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt, pətˈoʊmək hˈoʊm bɹɪɡˈeɪd æz ɐ pɹˈaɪvət.
On 31 October 1861, Downey enlisted in the Union Army for the American Civil War, joining 3rd Maryland Infantry Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade as a private.