Although he was a staff officer for most of the rest of his war service, he commanded a brigade at the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 13, 1864.

The appointment was soon cancelled and he returned to his duties as a staff officer for Major General Joseph B. Kershaw for the remainder of the war.

[4] Goggin entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in the Class of 1842 but left before graduating.

[1][2][3] Goggin joined the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia in April 1862, serving on the staff of Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws as his assistant adjutant general.

Conner had lost his left leg in combat earlier that day, and Kershaw assigned Goggin to lead his brigade in the battle at Cedar Creek.

[2][6] After the American Civil War ended in 1865, Goggin returned to Texas, initially in the state's Waller County, and then in Austin.