fˈɑːloʊɪŋ hɪz kəŋɡɹˈɛʃənəl tˈɜːm, bɹˈɪdʒᵻz dʒˈɔɪnd ðə jˈuːniən ˈɑːɹmi wɪððə ɹˈæŋk ʌv luːtˈɛnəntkˈɜːnəl, ænd kəmˈændᵻd ðə tˈɛnθ tˌɛnəsˈiː kˈævəlɹi fɹʌm ˈɔːɡəst wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti θɹˈiː tə noʊvˈɛmbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈoːɹ.
Following his congressional term, Bridges joined the Union Army with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and commanded the 10th Tennessee Cavalry from August 1863 to November 1864.