In 1712, he joined the Franconian artillery as a private because this was the only path to follow for Neumann to have a military career as an engineer.
Svoje prvo vajeništvo je verjetno opravil pri svojem botru, izdelovalcu zvonov in livarju Balthasarju Platzerju in v začetku 18. stoletja po preselitvi v Würzburg prišel k Sebaldu Kochu, kjer je leta 1711 pridobil naziv.