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Inspector

George T. Hammonds

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch December 18, 1868

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 3 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, U.S. Government

Inspector William Hammonds and Inspector George Phelps were shot and killed in Brownsville, Texas, by a group of bandits that attacked the United States Customs House at the mouth of the Rio Grande River.

The bandits had crossed into the United States from Mexico and encountered the acting deputy collector in front of the Customs House. A struggle ensued in which the deputy collector was knocked unconscious. The subjects then entered the Customs House and, without speaking, opened fire on Inspector Phelps, killing him as he sat in a chair.

After raiding the Customs House the bandits went to a nearby home and attempted to lure out the homeowner, but were refused entry to the home. Inspector Phelps, who had heard the gunfire, as the bandits left. When he learned that the homeowner did not have any weapons he attempted to leave to obtain assistance, but the bandits ambushed him and shot him in both legs. He tried to crawl back to the house but was grabbed by the bandits and shot and stabbed repeatedly.

The groups of bandits fled back into Mexico while being chased by citizens.

Inspector Hammonds was 26 years old and left behind a wife and a child. He had written to his family and they were expected on the next steamer from New Orleans. Customs officers from the United States and Mexico attended the funeral. Both men were buried locally but the grave sites have not been located.

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Last updated: September 9, 2026

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Tributes

158 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Inspector Hammonds served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1868

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

George is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1868, 20 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 161st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

George was 26. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded