He was connected with various government works as a member of the Engineer Corps, and served in the Mexican War in 1847–48.

From 1849 to 1852, he was superintending engineer of the sea wall for the protection of Great Brewster Island, Boston Harbor, and from 1852 to 1853 of the Washington (D.C.) Navy Yard.

In 1861 he was appointed engineer of the Department of the Ohio; in the same year he was promoted to be a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded a brigade at New Creek.

He was censured by General William S. Rosecrans for failing to follow orders given to him multiple times, allowing the Confederate army of General John B. Floyd to escape at the end of the 1861 West Virginia campaign.

He also disobeyed orders and was subject to a court martial after the battle of James Island on June 16, 1862, at which he was in immediate command under Major General David Hunter.