According to one account he went as a volunteer to Germany, and served with such distinction in the wars of Gustavus Adolphus that he was raised to the rank of captain.

With the rank of captain, he fought with great gallantry against Montrose at Kilsyth, 15 August 1645, and escaped uninjured during the flight.

With other Scottish Covenanters he, however, supported the king against Cromwell in 1650 and, accompanying him in 1651 into England, fought for him at the battle of Worcester on 3 September.

After the Restoration he fought, in command of a party of covenanting cavalry, on 28 September 1666, at Rullion Green, where he had a personal encounter with Thomas Dalyell.

[6] He was excepted out of the indemnities passed after both battles, but succeeded in lurking safely in various hiding places, until in 1684 he was taken in the house of a covenanter, Robert Howie.

[2] James Dodds, a minister from Dunbar wrote a poem called "Meeting Of General Dalziel And Captain John Paton Of Meadowhead, When the Latter was brought Prisoner to Edinburgh, August, 1684.

The same that won his maiden scars At Lutzen, famed in story; And since, in every hard campaign, Hath shared the toil and glory.