In 1854, Crawford was elected as a Democrat to the 34th United States Congress to represent Georgia's 2nd congressional district.

Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed Crawford as a special commissioner to the United States in Washington, D.C. Martin J. Crawford organized the 3rd Regiment, Georgia Cavalry in May 1862 to support the Confederate States Army, operating with the Army of Tennessee.

The next campaign at New Haven saw most of the regiment taken prisoner—the retreating contingent fought at the Battle of Murfreesboro—then reconstituted under Colonel J.J. Morrison.

The Georgia 3rd surrendered on April 26, 1865, with the Army of Tennessee—surrendering field officers were Colonels Martin J. Crawford, Richard E. Kennon, and Robert Thompson; Lieutenant Colonel James T. Thornton; and Majors Daniel F. Booton and Hiram H.

[2] After the war, Crawford became judge of the superior court of the Chattahoochee circuit on October 1, 1875, to fill a vacancy.