During the American Civil War, he served in Tuscarora, Juniata, and Shenandoah and, in the years that followed, in USS Hartford and Richmond.

He was part of the blockading fleet during the Civil War, which for a time was commanded by his father, and was present at the evacuation of Charleston; he also participated in both attacks on Fort Fisher, for which he was cited for gallantry in action, and twice recommended for promotion.

[1] Ordered to the Naval Observatory in 1869, he returned to sea duty on the Asiatic Station, a year and a half later.

Commissioned rear admiral the same year, he served as commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, League Island, Philadelphia, from May 1902 to April 1903; commanded the Coast Squadron until 1905; then assumed duty as the nineteenth superintendent of the Naval Academy.

One of the sons, William Franklin Sands, became United States Minister to Guatemala, and two of the daughters, Clara and Hilda, became Religious of the Sacred Heart.