He attended Emory College at Oxford, Georgia where he was preparing to become a doctor; but, before reaching this goal, he was called into Confederate service.

Joe joined Captain William HughesÙu cavalry company, the ÙSLiberty GuardsÙT which became Company B, 1st Battalion Georgia Cavalry. He served with the unit in picketing along the coast. In 1863 the unit became Company D, 5th Georgia Cavalry. After forays into South Carolina and Florida, the regiment was called to Atlanta to join Major General WheelerÙus Cavalry Corps.

In June 1864 the ÙSGuardsÙT saw action at the Battle of Noonday Church. The ÙSGuardsÙT was pretty well shot up and Private Daniel was wounded in the hip. His jacket is preserved in the Midway Museum at Midway, Georgia. Joe survived the wound and was paroled at Savannah on May 5, 1865.

In his later years, his mode of transportation was a black buggy with his trusted steed, ÙSOld Gray.ÙT His other companion was his birddog named Kermit.