During the American Civil War, Maish recruited a company for the Union Army in 1862, and because of this joined the 130th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry as a Captain. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel because of his education. In less than two months he was involved in the battle of Antietam, wounded severely in the upper chest and lung, leading an advance across the cornfield in front of the initially strong defensive position of the sunken road. During his convalescence, he was promoted to colonel. After the Battle of Fredericksburg. He was mustered out with his regiment at the expiration of its term of service on May 21, 1863.
Maish was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1878. He was again elected to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890. He was engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C., until his death there in 1899. Interment in Arlington National Cemetery.
Freemasonry
Maish was made a Mason in York Lodge No. 266, F.&A.M., in York, Pennsylvania on January 6, 1863. He resigned in 1869 to become a warrant member of Zeredatha Lodge No. 451 in York, of which he was subsequently elected to serve as Worshipful Master in 1873.
