He helped raise the 4th Kentucky Infantry at Camp Dick Robinson and on October 9, 1861, he was appointed colonel of the regiment.

Zollicoffer's aide came riding from the woods and, attempting to warn the general that he was in the midst of enemy soldiers, fired off a shot.

Fry never specifically claimed he was the one who killed Zollicoffer, but many reports and paintings at the time give full credit to him.

On March 21, 1862, Fry was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, in the Army of the Ohio under Don Carlos Buell.

At the close of the war, he was in command of Camp Nelson, the vast Union recruiting and deployment depot south of Lexington.

The order was overturned by his superior Major General Stephan G Burbridge, giving Captain Theron Hall authority over refugees in the camp on November 29, 1864.