In September 1962, Billingslea was ordered to the headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division ("Indianhead") at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he succeeded Charles H. Chase as commanding general. Only two weeks later, he mobilized both Army troops and the 4,000 troops of the 108th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Mississippi National Guard who were "federalized" to restore order during the Ole Miss riot, in response to the enrollment of the first African American student, James Meredith. He successfully restored order on the second day of riots, leaving two dead and over 300 injured.