In 1860, he was chosen as the messenger of the
electoral college for New York state to convey to
Washington, D.C. its vote in favor of the
presidency of
Abraham Lincoln. In 1861, he was appointed U.S. assistant district attorney for the
U.S. Southern District of New York. He held this office for approximately 18 months.
Union Army In 1862, during the
American Civil War, he joined the
Union Army as a volunteer, serving until 1865, during which time he became in succession chief of staff to Gen.
Quincy A. Gillmore in the Department of the South, and military commandant of
Charleston, South Carolina, and
Savannah, Georgia. He became colonel of the 103rd Regiment of U.S. Colored Infantry. On January 13, 1866, U.S. President
Andrew Johnson nominated Woodford for the award of the honorary grade of
brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from May 12, 1865, and the
U. S. Senate confirmed the award on March 12, 1866.
Lieutenant governor of New York He was the
Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1867 to 1868, elected in
1866 on the
Republican ticket with Governor
Reuben E. Fenton. In
1870, Woodford was the Republican candidate for Governor but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat
John T. Hoffman.
U.S. Congress In 1872, he was elected as a Republican to the
43rd United States Congress and served from March 4, 1873, to July 1, 1874. Also in 1872 he was chosen to be a presidential elector.
U.S. federal attorney He was
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1877 to 1883.
U.S. envoy to Spain In June 1897, President
William McKinley appointed Woodford to the post of
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain. Spain severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. on April 21, 1898, and Woodford left his post the same day. The United States declared war on Spain as of that date by Act of Congress approved on April 25, 1898. ==Death==