he later served as a captain in the 3rd u.s. infantry (a rank he achieved in 1851) at various frontier outposts in texas and new mexico territory, san antonio, texas 1848–49, post opposite el paso del norte, 1849–1850; fort fillmore 1851–52, 1852–53; fort webster, 1852, 1853–54; and fort thorn, 1854–55. he then resigned his commission in 1855 and began farming near pontiac, michigan.