[2] Remey became a captain of a Burlington militia company known as the Zouave Light Guards, who organized in 1861.

In 1861, Remey was appointed by Senator Grimes as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In 1869, he worked at the Marine Barracks in Philadelphia and as an instructor in army signals in Washington, D.C., between 1869 and 1870.

On June 9, 1880, he was made colonel and the first Judge Advocate General of the Navy.

He served in this role until his retirement on June 9, 1892, after reports of ill health surfaced.