[1] He was present when the Confederate ram CSS Arkansas attacked the Union fleet on 15 July 1862, receiving his commission as lieutenant commander the next day.

He then served aboard the steam sloop USS Ticonderoga in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron until the war's end in April 1865.

The shipwrecked sailors salvaged supplies from the ship and five men, led by Lieutenant John G. Talbot, set out in a small boat for the main Hawaiian Islands some 1,250 miles (1,090 nmi; 2,010 km) to the southeast.

Arriving at Kauai after 31 days, the boat overturned in the breakers, and only Coxswain William Halford survived.

King Kamehameha V sent his steamer Kilauea to rescue the sailors stranded on Kure Atoll, all of whom survived.

[1] He was promoted to commodore on 10 July 1894,[3] to rear admiral on 6 April 1897,[3][6] taking command of the North Atlantic Squadron.

[7] Sicard was a Companion of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.