On May 6, 1834 in Clark County, he married a widow with three children, Martha Ann Fullwood Bedell (1810–1870).

At the beginning of the Civil War he was made Captain and Quartermaster of the 4th Battalion, Georgia infantry October 14, 1861.

At Mechanicsville in the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, June 26, 1862 he was wounded with a shot through the right lung but continued to serve.

"Nor can I [General Joseph R. Anderson] omit to call special attention to the gallant conduct of Capt.

He rendered valuable service until he was seriously wounded" (Official Records, Series 1, Volume XI., Part II).