During the War of Reform, he fought on the side of the liberals, and during the Second French Intervention in Mexico he joined the Second Mexican Empire and was eventually killed in action during the Battle of Guadeloupe in Ures, Sonora.

In mid 1846, he also participated in the military coup led by General Mariano Salas, fought in the Mexican–American War in the battles of Buena Vista and the Valley of Mexico, and was promoted to colonel.

He also participated under the command of General José de Urrea in guerrilla-style fighting against American forces in Marín, Agua Negra, and Cerralvo in Nuevo León.

He joined the Plan of Ayutla due to being a member of President Comonfort's chief of staff, accompanied him in the operations on the Conservatives who occupied Puebla, and was promoted to general.

He then went to Sinaloa and became General Plácido Vega's second-in-command, took part in the Action of Espinal in which the conservative chief Domingo Cajén was defeated, and participated in the persecution of Antonio Esteves in Sonora.