Evening star., 1898-09-30
ADMIRAL SICARD RETIRED
VIII Remain at the Head of the Promotion
Board.
Sketch of His Notable Career Durin.
the Civil War and in Bureau
Offices Since.

Rear Admiral Montgomery Sicard, presi-
dent of the board charged with the pro-
motion of officers distinguished for GAL
lantry during the late war. was retired
toGay by operation of law. having reached
the age of siXty-two years
Secretary Long has, however by special
order, directed that the officer retain his
place at the head of the promotion board
Admiral Scard stands distinguished among
the officers of the American navy for many
notable accomplishments covering not only
the period of the civil war, but that of
peace in the development of naval ma
tarial.
He was born in New York September 30.
1886, and appointed to the Naval Academy
from the same state in 1851. His first serv-
ice was on the frigate Potomac and the
steam frigate Wabash in the Mediterranean
in 1880. In 1851 he was a lieutenant and
when the war broke out took station on
the Oneida as executive officer in the west
gulf squadron, where he served from 60
to '63. He was in the bombardment and
passage of Fort Jackson and Fort ST Phil
ip, assisted in the destruction of the rebel
Hotilla of gunboats and participated in the
capture of the Chalmette batteries and the
capture of New Orleans in April. 1862. He
low Vicksburg and finally with the sue
ceSsful passage of the river at that point
and in the same year he was engaged with
the armored ram Kansas.
AS executive officer of the Ticondcroga
he took part in the pursuit of the cruiser
Florida and other confederate cruisers, and
Joined the North Atlantic squadron in fSti4
He was in command of the Senator during
the attacks on Fort Fisher, in 1854 and 1865
and led the left wing of the naval assault
IN the final successful land assault on Fort
FISHER He was also a participant in the
bombardment of Fort Anderson in Febru-
airy, 1860.
In 1881, being then captain he was made
chief of the bureau of naval ordnance.
This was a period when The United States
navy was being recdst on new lines, and
Capt Sicard led the way so far as the
ordnance was concerned. To him is due
the credit of inaugural ting the new system
Of steel breech -loa1ing ordnance which
makes the American naval rhe Of today
the best in the world. TO do this he found
il necessary to establish a gun factory at
the Washington navy yard. Meanwhile
he found time to engage in the develop
ment Of many branches Of naval constluc-
ton
As commodore he was commandant at
the New York navy yard for several years
and in April, 1897, becoming rear admiral,
he was made commander-in-chef of the
North Atlantic squadron. For nearly a
year A6miral Sicard devoted himself 10
the training Of the personnel cf the ships
10 the development of a system of feet
maneuvers to the instruction OF the crews
particularly in gun practice, and indeed in
all of those matters of naval training
which made the North Atlantic squadron
such tremendous engine Of warfare dur
ing the war with Spain. Just a month be-
fore war was actually declared the admiral.
then with his fleet lying off the coas, of
Florida ready to sWoop down upon Cuba.
broke down In health, and by orle- of a
medical board was succeeded in command
of the squadron by Capt Sampson He
came to Washington, and, notwit hsIanIing
his Ill health, consented TO serve as the
president of the naval war board whose
brilliant services are now a matter of
record