Veale joined the Army in Portsmouth, Virginia, enlisting as a private in Company D of the 4th Regiment United States Colored Infantry.

[1] On September 29, 1864, his unit participated in a charge during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm on the outskirts of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

When Hilton himself was wounded, Veale and another soldier, Sergeant Major Christian Fleetwood, each grabbed a flag from him before the colors could touch the ground.

General Benjamin Butler witnessed these events and desired to promote Veale to sergeant on the spot.

[1] For their actions during the battle, Fleetwood, Hilton, and Veale were each issued the Medal of Honor just over six months later, on April 6, 1865.