His last cruise whilst belonging to the United States Navy was made as executive officer of the frigate Cumberland, the flag-ship of Flag-Officer Stringham, on the Mediterranean Station, thus ending his active service in the United States Navy where it began, after an interval of thirty years.
Soon after his promotion to a lieutenancy Tucker was married, at Norfolk, Virginia, on the 7th of June, 1838, to Virginia, daughter of Captain Thomas Tarleton Webb, of the United States Navy. This union was, uninterruptedly, most happy and harmonious until it was dissolved by the death of Mrs. Tucker in 1858. She left several children, three of whom—Randolph Tucker, of Richmond, Virginia; Tarleton Webb Tucker, of Memphis, Tennessee; and Virginius Tucker, of Norfolk, Virginia—are now living and prospering.
On September 14th, 1855, Tucker received his commission as a Commander, and at the same time was ordered to command the Pennsylvania, an old three-decker ship-of-the-line which was in commission as receiving-ship at Norfolk. His next duty was as Ordnance Officer of the Norfolk Navy Yard, and it was whilst he was employed on this duty that the secession of Virginia caused him to forward his resignation to the Secretary of the Navy.
There is no intention of discussing in this biographical sketch the questions which were in controversy between the Northern and Southern States until they were finally settled by the arbitrament of arms; it is sufficient to say that nothing but the sincerest conviction that the highest duty required the sacrifice could have induced an officer in Tucker's position to leave an established and an illustrious navy to enter the service of a people who had neither ships nor sailors.
PART II.[ToC]
Appointed a Commander in the Virginia Navy — In Charge of the Defenses of James River — Transferred to the Confederate States Navy — Placed in Command of the Patrick Henry — Fitting Out Under Difficulties — First Partially Armored American Vessel. Lieutenant Powell's Plan for Armored Gunboats — Officers of the Patrick Henry — Guarding James River — Scaling the Guns — "Naval Skirmish" — A Flag Which Was Not Presented — Battle of Hampton Roads. Sinking of the Cumberland; an American Vengeur — Burning of the Congress — Combat Between the Virginia and the Monitor — Flag-officer Tatnall Takes Command of the Confederate Squadron — Sally Into Hampton Roads — Plan for Carrying the Monitor by Boarding — Evacuation of Norfolk — Towing Unfinished Gunboats to Richmond — Federal Squadron Enters James River — Crews of the Patrick Henry, Jamestown and Virginia man the Naval Batteries at Drewry's Bluff — Action at Drewry's Bluff — The Galena; a Well-Fought Vessel. Repulse of the Federal Squadron — Tucker ordered To Command the Iron-clad Steamer Chicora at Charleston — Successful Attack on the Blockading Squadron — Tucker Posted and Appointed Flag-Officer of the Charleston Squadron — Commanding Officers of the Charleston Squadron — Dupont's Attack on Charleston — Confederate Torpedo-Boats at Charleston; Damage Done By Them — Charleston Naval Battalion Serving With the Army — Evacuation of Charleston — One Battalion of the Charleston Squadron Serves With the Army at Wilmington — Tucker, With the Charleston Squadron Brigade, Marches through North Carolina and Arrives at Richmond — Tucker Ordered to Command at Drewry's Bluff — Confederacy at its last gasp — Evacuation of Richmond — Tucker not informed of the intention to Evacuate Richmond — Succeeds in joining his brigade of sailors to Major-Gen. Custis Lee's Division — Action at Saylor's Creek; didn't know they were whipped, thought the fight had just begun — Surrender — Prisoner of war — Released on parole — Employed by the Southern Express Company
Tucker was appointed a Commander in the Virginia Navy, with rank from the date of the commission in the United States Navy which he had resigned. He was at first assigned by the Governor to the defense of James river, but in a short time was ordered to assume command of the steamer Patrick Henry.