During the First World War, Lindsay was promoted to brigadier general as commander of the 97th Division at Camp Cody, New Mexico.

After the war, he was commissioned as a brigadier general in the Organized Reserve Corps and served as Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Kentucky's Louisville Male High School.

[5] Lindsay was a teacher and principal for several years, including at schools in Claremont[6] and Calhoun,[7] and in 1886 he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy from U.S. Representative Silas Z.

[8] From September 1895 to June 1897 he was posted to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, including attendance at the Infantry and Cavalry School (now the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

[8] He took part in combat with the 8th Infantry, including the Siege of Santiago, and was appointed quartermaster of 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Fifth Army Corps.

[9] After returning to the United States, Lindsay performed recruiting duty at Columbus Barracks, Ohio until November 1899.

[9] As quartermaster, Lindsay supervised construction and repairs at the fort, in addition to commanding its Casual Company from September 1903 to February 1904.

[9] In March 1911, Lindsay was promoted to major in the 28th Infantry Regiment, and he served as quartermaster of the Fort Leavenworth post from June to August 1911.

[10] In September 1915, Lindsay was transferred to the 15th Infantry Regiment, which was stationed at Regan Barracks near Legazpi, Albay in the Philippines until October 1916, and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1916.

[10] Upon returning to the United States, Lindsay was assigned to command the 62nd Infantry Regiment at the Presidio of San Francisco.

[10] He was promoted to temporary colonel in August 1917, and led his regiment during its World War I training at Camp Fremont, California.

[10] In October 1918, Lindsay was promoted to temporary brigadier general and assigned to command the 97th Division and the post at Camp Cody, New Mexico.