 He moved to Santa Rosa, California, in 1859 and taught school and explored mining regions.He went east in 1862 during the American Civil War to join the Union Army and served with the National Rifles of the District of Columbia, an independent militia, serving in the Army of the Potomac.He was a special agent for the United States Department of the Treasury from 1865 to 1869, and was detailed to California, where he undertook confidential assignments for the United States Secretary of the Treasury.