He was then promoted to sub-lieutenant at twenty, he served in Algeria and fought in Italy and Mexico (where he was wounded) in the Foreign Legion up to the rank of captain. And he was again promoted battalion commander during the Franco-Prussian War, where he commanded the 2nd battalion of foot hunters and the 19th marching battalion of the same weapon. He is injured on November 27, 1870, at the Battle of Amiens, and served with the Versailles troops against the Paris Commune in 1871. Promoted to colonel on August 22, 1880, He took command of the 128th Infantry Regiment in Sedan. In 1884, he was appointed to command in Tonkin a marching regiment made up of three battalions of line infantry.