[1] On April 21, 1861, Palmer enlisted as a private with Company F of the 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment in the Civil War.

After Lewis B. Williams Jr. was shot at the Battle of Williamsburg in May 1862, he was given command of the First Virginia and promoted to major.

[1] He spent the rest of the war with Hill, eventually rising to be the chief of staff for the Army of Northern Virginia's Third Corps.

[citation needed] He was one of the officers unhorsed during the accidental shooting of Stonewall Jackson during the Battle of Chancellorsville and afterward he fell from a horse that was shot from under him, causing him to miss action for months due to an injured shoulder.

He was present at the Battle of Appomattox Court House and surrendered with General Lee.

[2] He was also president of the A. M. Lyons Tobacco Company and was director of the Richmond and Danville Railroad.

[1][3] They had six children, Leila, Mrs. Frank Christian, Mrs. W. Ormond Young, Edwin A., William H. Jr. and Mrs. Robert Preston Means.