He served with distinction throughout the American Civil War and as 1st Assistant Engineer of , participated in an engagement with the Confederate ships  and  in Albemarle Sound on 5 May 1864.
hiː sˈɜːvd wɪð dɪstˈɪŋkʃən θɹuːˈaʊt ðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən sˈɪvəl wˈɔːɹ ænd æz fˈɜːst ɐsˈɪstənt ˌɛndʒɪnˈɪɹ ʌv , pɑːɹtˈɪsᵻpˌeɪɾᵻd ɪn ɐn ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒmənt wɪððə kənfˈɛdɚɹət ʃˈɪps ænd ɪn ˈælbɪmˌɑːɹl sˈaʊnd ˌɔn fˈaɪv mˈeɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈoːɹ.