Amos Rucker, Black Confederate


On August 10, 1905, Amos, Rucker, a ex-Confederate soldier and proud
member of the United Confederate Veterans, died in Atlanta, Georgia.
His friends of the UCV had previously bought a grave site and marker
for he and his wife Martha who had limited income. Amos Rucker was
one of many thousands of Black Southerners who fought for the South
during the War Between the States.

Amos was a servant and best friend to Sandy Rucker. Both men joined
the 33rd Georgia Regiment when the South was invaded. Amos fought
as a regular soldier and sustained wounds to his breast and one
of his legs that left him permanently crippled.

Amos Rucker joined the W.H.T. Walker Camp of the United Confederates
after the war in Atlanta, Georgia. He would faithfully attend the
meetings that were held on the second Monday of each month at 102
Forsyth Street. He was able to remember the name of every man of
his old 33th Regiment and would name them and add whether they were
living or dead.

Amos Rucker and wife Martha felt that the men of the United Confederate
Veterans were like family. Rucker said that, "My folks gave
me everything I want." The UCV men helped Amos and wife Martha
with a house on the west side of Atlanta and John M. Slaton helped
with his will and care for his wife. Slaton was a member of Atlanta’s
John B. Gordon Camp 46 Sons of Confederate Veterans and was governor
of Georgia when he commuted the death sentence of Leo Frank.

Funeral services for Amos Rucker was conducted by former Confederate
General and Reverend Clement A. Evans. A article about the funeral
related that Rucker was clothed in a gray Confederate uniform and
a Confederate flag covered his casket. It is written that both white
and black friends of Rucker came to pay their last respects. They
was not a dry eye in the church when Captain William Harrison read
a poem, entitled, "When Rucker called the roll."

A grave marker was placed in 1909 by the United Confederate Veterans
that for many years marked the graves of Amos and Martha Rucker
but some say it was taken many years ago. Only the caretaker knows
where the graves are located.

Information for the story came from the book "Forgotten Confederates
– An Anthology about Black Confederates" compiled by
Kelly Barrow, J.H. Segars and R.B. Rosenburg."