Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/140

 134 Southern Historical Society Pcqoers.

^ The name of my dear and deeply-lamented friend, Admiral John Randolph Tucker, has been necessarily so frequently mentioned in this letter as commander of the Patrick Henry, that it will not be out of place to say a few words as to his career.

During the course of his honorable and eventful life Admiral Tucker served in three navies, rendering gallant, faithful and impor- tant services to each of them, but probably the most brilliant, if not the most important, of all his services was rendered whilst he com- manded the Patrick Henry.

Born in Alexandria, Virginia, in the year 1812, he entered the navy of the United States as a midshipman in 1826, and made his first cruise in the frigate Brandyivine. In 1837 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1855 to that of commander. During the Mexican war he commanded the bomb-brig Stromboli. In 1861, when commanded so to do by the Virginia Convention, he resigned his commission in the United States navy and entered the Confederate service, with the rank of commander. He commanded the Confed- erate States steamer Patrick Henry at the naval conflict in Hampton Roads ; and at Drewry's Bluff, having landed his crew and mounted the principal guns of his vessel on the bluff, he materially aided in repulsing the Federal squadron. Soon after the battle of Drewry's Bluff he was promoted to the rank of captain, and ordered to Charles- ton, where he commanded the Confederate naval forces as flag-officer of the station. When Charleston was evacuated he returned to Drewry's Bluff, which station he commanded until Richmond was evacuated, when he reported with his command to General Lee. His services in the civil war ended at Sailor's Creek, where, after a most gallant resistance, he surrendered to General Keifer, who some years after the close of the war returned him his sword.

During the war between the Republics of Peru and Chili and Spain, Admiral Tucker commanded, with the commission of rear admiral, the combined fleets of the two Republics. His last service was the exploration and survey of the upper Amazon and its tribu taries, being president of the Peruvian Hydrographic Commission of the Amazon.

He died of disease of the heart, at his residence in Petersburg, Virginia, on the 12th of June, 1883, and v/as buried by the side of his wife, in the cemetery at Norfolk.

It would require a volume to do anything like justice to the char- acter and career of this most noble and gallant man. His firmness