When Major Anderson transferred his forces from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, Mazyck was within a few months of graduating from South Carolina College, but with burning enthusiasm in the cause and utter disregard of anything but the call of his State, he joined the Washington Light Infantry and did service with that company at James Island, Secessionville, Sullivan's and Morris Islands. Subsequently he joined the Marion Artillery, and taking a special fancy to that arm of the service took an examination in ordnance and was eventually commissioned lieutenant and ordnance officer of Battery Wagner. This important post he filled for an unusually long term and with distinguished gallantry and efficiency during the terrible siege of Battery Wagner. When Wagner could no longer be held Captain T. A. Huguenin and Lieut. Mazyck were entrusted with the arduous and dangerous duty of spiking it's guns and blowing up it's magazine, September 6, 1893. They were assisted by Capt. C. C. Pinckney, Jr., Lieut. J. R. oss and Ordnance Sergt. Leatho, and these five were the last Confederates to leave Morris Island. It was no fault of theirs that the fuses failed to work and that the magazine did not explode. Lieut. Mazyck Served thereafter with great distinction as ordnance officer Hagood's brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, and by his zeal and conspicuous gallantry made a reputation which one would not suspect who noted his quiet and unobtrusive demeanor in these "piping time of peace." It was while referring to this characteristic of Dr. Mazyck that one of his old was comrades said yesterday afternoon. "He was as brave as a lion and modes as a woman".

From the News & Courier May 29, 1893 page 8