ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈoːɹ, hiː wʌz kəmˈɪʃənd æz kˈɜːnəl tə lˈiːd ðə fˈoːɹtiːnθ ɹˈoʊd ˈaɪlənd hˈɛvi ɑːɹtˈɪlɚɹi kˈʌlɚd lˈeɪɾɚ ɹˌiːdˈɛzɪɡnˌeɪɾᵻd æz ðɪ ɪlˈɛvənθ juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts kˈʌlɚd hˈɛvi ɑːɹtˈɪlɚɹi ʌvðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts kˈʌlɚd tɹˈuːps.
In 1864, he was commissioned as colonel to lead the 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (Colored) (later re-designated as the 11th United States Colored Heavy Artillery) of the United States Colored Troops.