In March 1848, Hülsen took part in the barricade fights in Berlin and became an oberleutnant and regimental adjutant at the beginning of April. In this position he was deployed during the First Schleswig War and in 1849 during the suppression of the May Uprising in Dresden. In this politically difficult time (German revolutions of 1848-49), King Frederick William IV of Prussia appointed him "Generalintendant of the court music". On 12 April 1851 Hülsen was granted his farewell with the title of Hauptmann and permission to wear the regiment uniform.