A Brief Biography of Hill's Chief of Couriers, Sgt. George W. Tucker

George W. Tucker was a trusted and favorite courier for A.P. Hill. He was also the only witness to Hill's death at Petersburg on the Confederate side. Tucker was just 23 when the war began.

He stood approximately six feet in height and had a dark complexion. Hailing from the neutral state of Maryland, he was arrested in May of 1861 and was tossed into prison as a spy. He languished there for some time. When he was released, Tucker enlisted in September 1862 with the 12th Virgina's Company F.

He fought at Sharpsburg with the unit. Hill took note of Tucker's bravery and had him assigned to his staff. Tucker served for almost the entire rest of the war with Powell Hill as a courier. Tucker eventually became the chief of couriers for the Third Corps.

Hill noted that Tucker was always at his side. Hill summed up Tucker thusly: "Sergeant Tucker was, as usual, always by my side, active and fearless." Tucker was captured again at Chancellorsville on the second day of fighting. He was sent to the Old Capitol prison in Washington where he was held for a week; he was released in time to join Hill for the battle of Gettysburg. He was nearly captured again at the Wilderness when he was wounded there by a Federal bullet.

Apparently, Tucker's horse had died in the winter and he wanted to find a new mount. Hill granted him permission to go catch a loose horse, but instead of catching a horse, Tucker caught a bullet in the thigh. He was sent to Richmond's massive Chimbarazo hospital, then furloughed for thirty days on June 10. Tucker then rejoined Hill and was by his side for the rest of the War. Tucker was with Hill when he was shot. Colonel William H. Palmer noted that he believed that Hill had endangered himself by riding forward because Hill believed he must share the peril of being shot with Tucker. Tucker told Palmer soon after that he had no idea Hill was next to him until he heard the sound of Champ just as the two Union soldiers fired.

Lee would surrender the Army of Northern Virginia a mere week later. Tucker attached himself to Lee's staff and was with Lee carrying the Third Corps flag on the fateful morning of April 9, 1865. This flag was exchanged for a white flag of truce, and Tucker accompanied Lee to the surrender.

Tucker then returned to Baltimore. He served in a variety of occupations. Tucker died on December 04, 1905 and was buried in the Loundon Park Cemetery. His headstone reads: "A Confederate Soldier."

For more information, try Charles Earp's article "Hill's Favorite Courier" in Civil War Times Illustrated, Sept./October 1992.