Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Mgbe ọ hapụrụ Alabama na obere ndị agha ya, e kenyere Reno ọrụ nwa oge ịchị Fort Leavenworth Arsenal ruo mgbe a họpụtara ya brigadier general nke ndị ọrụ afọ ofufo n'oge mgbụsị akwụkwọ nke 1861. A kpọfere ya na Virginia, were ọchịchị nke 2nd Brigade, Burnside Expeditionary Force, ma n'oge na-adịghị anya hazie ndị agha ise. Brigade nke Abụọ lụrụ ọgụ na Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside's North Carolina Expedition site na February ruo July 1862. Reno ghọrọ ọchịagha nke ngalaba na IX Corps, nke ghọrọ akụkụ nke ndị agha nke Potomac. Na Northern Virginia Campaign, Reno guzogidere enyi ya na nwa klas ya Stonewall Jackson n'oge Agha nke Abụọ nke Bull Run na
Agha nke Chantilly. A họpụtara Reno onye isi ndị agha na August 20, 1862. (A kwadoro nkwalite a mgbe ọ nwụsịrị na Machị 9, 1863, na ụbọchị ọkwa ya bụ July 18, 1862.) Burnside ghọrọ onye isi ndị agha nke aka nri nke ndị agha nke Potomac maka mmalite nke Mgbasa Ozi Maryland na Septemba, na-ebuli Reno ka ọ bụrụ onye isi nke IX Corps site na Septemba 3.