During the Civil War he drove on the sloop-of-war on the passage on Fort Jackson on Fort St. Philip in April 1862, and on the capture on New Orleans, and took part on engagements on the batteries on Vicksburg on Grand Gulf. He was executive officer of the ironclad monitor in the first attack on Fort Sumter on April 7, 1863, and in the engagement with the Confederate ram on June 17, and in the attacks on defenses at Charleston, from July 4 till September 7. He took part with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron in the actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864 and later commanded the double-ender side-wheel gunboat in late 1864 and into 1865.