On November 10, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Bailey brigadier general of volunteers to rank from November 19, 1864, and submitted this nomination to the Senate on December 12, 1864, and again on March 7, 1865. The first nomination expired without U.S. Senate confirmation on March 4, 1865, and Bailey resigned from the service on July 7, 1865, before the Senate acted on the second nomination.
On November 10, 1864, President Lincoln appointed Brigadier General Bailey to a rank effective November 19, 1864. He submitted this nomination to the Senate on December 12, 1864, and again on March 7, 1865. The first nomination was rejected by the Senate before it could be acted upon. Bailey resigned from service on July 7, 1865, before the second nomination was considered.