During the Civil War, he served on the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron and the North Atlantic Squadron. After the war, he served on the Asiatic Station and as Commandant of the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard. 

He died at Londonderry, Maryland, on October 9, 1898 and was buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery.

He is buried near Army First Lieutenant George Lea Febiger, who was killed in action during the Philippine Insurrection.

After commanding various vessels in that and the Mississippi squadron, he was given the "Mattabeset," of the North Atlantic squadron, in 1864, and in that steamer took part, on 5 May 1864, in the fight between the little fleet of wooden vessels, under Captain Melancton Smith, and the Confederate ram "Albemarle," in Albemarle sound, N.C. In this engagement the ram was defeated, and her tender, the  Bombshell," captured, and Febiger was commended for his " gallantry and skill" by Captain Smith and Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee. He commanded the "Ashuelot," of the Asiatic squadron, in 1866'8, and on 6 May of the latter year was promoted to captain. He was inspector of naval reserve lands in 1869'72, was made commodore, 9 August 1874, was a member of the board of examiners in 1874'6, and commandant of  the Washington navy yard in 1876'80. He was promoted to rear admiral, 4 February 1882, and on 1 July 1882, was retired on his own application, having been in the service over forty years.