He was appointed a pilot in the United States navy and served as such on the monitor Keokuk in the attack on Fort Sumter; was promoted to captain for gallant and meritorious conduct, December 1, 1863, and placed in command of the Planter, a position which he held until the vessel was taken out of commission in 1866.

He was a member of the South Carolina Constitutional Convention, 1868; elected same year to the legislature, to the state senate 1870 and 1872, and was a member of the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses.
Among the most inspiring pages of Civil War history written by the Negro, were the campaigns of Port Hudson, Louisiana; Fort Wagner, South Carolina and Fort Pillow, Kentucky.

Negro troops participated in the siege of the former place by the Federal forces under General Banks, which began in May 1863, and ended in the surrender of the fort July 8, 1863.

Fort Wagner was one of the defenses of Charleston.

It was reduced by General Gilmore, September 6,1863 and Negro troops contributed in a glorious and heroic manner to the result.