In 1855, he helped establish a local militia unit, the Montreal Field Battery (now the 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery), and was promoted to lieutenant in 1856. By April 1857, he had become the artillery unit's commanding officer. In 1858, the Battery was invited to march through New York City and Boston with its flags flying—the first time British troops had been permitted to do so since the Revolution. He was commanding officer of the Battery during the Fenian raids of 1866 and 1870 and received the Canada General Service Medal. He retired as lieutenant-colonel on April 24, 1891.