He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 18th Georgia Infantry Regiment on it's organization, ranking from April 25, 1861. He was listed as being from the Georgia Military Institute, Marietta, where he had graduated 2nd in the Class of 1856.

He was in command of the Regiment in the Antietam Campaign and at the Battle of Chancellorsville, as Colonel Wofford was commanding the Brigade.

The remainder of the War:

He was elected Colonel on April 23, 1863 (to rank from January 17, 1863) after the promotion of Brigadier General Wofford. He was killed at Knoxville, Tennesse on November 29, 1863.