He was most noted for constructing the solid defenses of Federal-occupied Nashville, Tennessee, which proved to withstand repeated attacks by the Confederates.

He served under General Scott in the Mexican War, led the storming column at Contreras, and was wounded at Chapultepec.

On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Tower for the award of the honorary grade of brevet major general, U.S.

Tower supervised the work of improving several major harbors, both for commercial and military purposes.

He was an original founding member of the Aztec Club of 1847, a social organization for officers who served in the Mexican-American War.