Manigault attended the College of Charleston, although he abandoned his studies to pursue an interest in business.

A few days before the outbreak of the Civil War, Manigault participated in the Battle of Fort Sumter.

He was colonel of the 10th South Carolina Infantry, and helped construct the batteries for the defense of Winyah Bay in Georgetown County.

Afterwards he served with the reorganized Army of Tennessee and saw action at the Battles of Stone's River and Chickamauga.

He died in Georgetown County, South Carolina in 1886 and is buried in the Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston.