[4] As a newly commissioned officer, Brodie was assigned to Camp Apache, where he participated in General George Crook's campaign in Arizona Territory.

The young lieutenant managed his group's ammunition supply over the course of an eight-hour fight, and returned safely to camp after nightfall.

[8] After leaving the military, Brodie worked as a cattleman in Kansas and miner in Dakota Territory before enlisting in the U.S. Cavalry at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri in August 1883.

[8] From 1887 till 1890 he worked as superintendent and chief engineer of the Walnut Grove Dam on the Hassayampa River north of Wickenburg.

[10] Brodie himself was held innocent of wrongdoing in the failure as he had publicly called for higher construction standards on the project.

[11] In 1891, Brodie was appointed commander of the Arizona Territorial National Guard by Governor John N. Irwin, a position he held till May 1892.

[11] On March 3, 1898, with the outbreak of war between Spain and the United States appearing likely, Brodie sent telegraphs to President William McKinley and Governor Myron H. McCord seeking permission to raise a volunteer regiment of cavalry.

Initially refusing to leave the battle, Major Brodie was eventually forced from the field by pain and blood loss.

[11] After recovering from his wound, Brodie returned to the Rough Riders on August 11, 1898, and, being promoted to lieutenant colonel, succeeded Theodore Roosevelt as unit commander.

[13] Following the resignation of Oakes Murphy as Governor of Arizona Territory, Brodie was nominated for the position and sworn into office on July 1, 1902.

An action of note prior to the convening of the 22nd Arizona Territorial Legislature was the pardon of Pearl Hart on moral grounds.

Brodie considered the legislative appropriation which created the fund illegal as it had no oversight provisions to prevent misuse.

The first change he asked for was increasing the tax rates for mining operations which the Governor felt were not paying a fair share in comparison to other parts of the territorial economy.

Brodie, who personally supported women's suffrage, opposed this bill on the basis that it was not permitted under the limitations of the Arizona Organic Act.

[18] Between legislative sessions, Brodie was responsible for expanding the size of the Arizona Rangers from fourteen to twenty-six men.