First he joined the Cossack detachment of Novocherkassk and participated in the battle for Rostov in November−December 1917. Then he became Chief of Staff of the Don Cossack Army, under command of General Anatoly Nazarov. Later he was also Chief of Staff under General Pyotr Popov (25 April − 18 May 1918), when he took part in the Steppe March. From 12 May 1918 to 2 February 1919 he was in the reserve of the Don Army.