★ Duffie, Alfred

Alfred Napoleon Alexander Duffie​

Born: May 1, 1835 – (Some Sources Say May 18th​)

Birthplace: Paris, France

Father: Count Jean August Duffie 1798 – 1885

Mother: Clarisse Lhoste 1809 –

Wife: Mary A. Pelton 1828 – 1910

(Buried: Fountain Cemetery, West New Brighton, New York)​

Children:

Daniel Pelton Duffie 1862 – 1943​

(Buried: Fair View Cemetery, Middletown, New Jersey)​

Auguste Duffie 1866 – 1866​

(Buried: Fountain Cemetery, West New Brighton, New York)​

Education:

Graduated from Ecole Speciale Millitarie de Saint – Cyr​

Occupation before War:

Served in the French Imperial Cavalry​

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1852 – 1859: Served in the French Army rising to Sub – Lt.​

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1854: Served in the Battle of Balaclava, Crimea​

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1855: Served in the Battle of the Chernaya​

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1859: Recipient of Legion d'Honneur​

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1859: Promoted to Sub – Lt. of 3rd​ Hussar Cavalry​

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1859: Resigned from the French Army​

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Immigrated to the United States from France​

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1859 – 1861: Suffered from the Effects of Asthma​

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Lived on Staten Island, New York​

Civil War Career:

1861: Captain in 2nd​ New York Cavalry Regiment​

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1861: Often had confrontations with his superior officers​

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Challenged General Fitz John Porter to a duel​

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1862 – 1863: Colonel of 1st​ Rhode Island Cavalry Regiment​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia​

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1863: Ordered a charge at the Battle of Kelly's Ford, Virginia​

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1863: His horse was shot, throwing him into water, bruising his leg​

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1863: Promoted to division commander in Union Army, Cavalry​

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1863: Division Commander during the Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia​

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1863: Demoted back to regimental commander​

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1863: Led his regiment on a mission to Middleburg, Virginia

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1863: Almost captured Major General J.E.B. Stuart​

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1863 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army Cavalry​

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1863: Saw Action at Lewisburg, West Virginia​

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1864: Served in Hunter's Shenandoah Valley Campaign​

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1864: Captured by John S. Mosby at Bunker Hill, West Virginia​

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1864: Major General Phil Sheridan Asked for him to be dismissed​

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1864 – 1865: Prisoner of War held by the Confederate Army​

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1865: Paroled from Confederate Prison on February 22nd​​

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1865: Mustered out of the Union Army on August 24th​​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1869: Lived at Staten Island, New York​

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1867: Became a naturalized Citizen of the United States​

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1869 – 1880: United States Counsel to Cadiz, Spain​

Died: November 8, 1880

Place of Death: Cadiz, Spain

Cause of Death: Tuberculosis

Age at time of Death: 47 years old

Burial Place: Fountain Cemetery, West New Brighton, New York

 

[Luke Freet]

I have been reading Shenandoah Summer and The Last Battle of Winchester by Scott Patchan, in which Duffie is brought up many times. He was a much more effective leader than many lead him on to be (possibly due to bias of him being another foreign general).

 

[Pollaco]

It was lack of discipline in his command which caused his falling out with not only Sheridan but Benjamin Kelley as well . His capture was by Mosby's Rangers as he rode ahead of a wagon train with only a small escort.

 

[Pollaco]

I just read where he was nicknamed "Nattie" just after joining the army.

 

[Cavalier]

I haven't known what to think of this guy and want to find out more about him. So far most of what I have read seems rather negative. If I remember correctly he wasn't above exaggerating his French military accomplishments.

John

 

[Pollaco]

The bio that I've read says he was too flashy, I suppose exaggerating could be considered "flashy".

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday (Sunday) Brig. General Alfred Duffie! Salutes remembering General Duffie on his birthday weekend.

 

[John Hartwell]

That's Duffié, pronouned Du-fee-YAY. A talented poseur. Most of his pre-war claims are exaggerated or downright lies. Back in 2014 I posted this thread (please excuse the expired photos):

Alfred Napoleon Duffie | Period Photos & Examinations

As Col. of the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry: 284886[/ATTACH]'] Later, as Brigadier General: 284888[/ATTACH]'] Doesn't he look the Bold Cavalier? The medals are the Cross of the Sultan (Turkish), Sardinian Cross, Victoria Cross, and Legion d'Honneur, all of which he claimed to have won in the...

civilwartalk.com

Read his story, largely as he wanted it told:

Alfred Napoleon Duffie

[from: Memoirs of Rhode Island officers who were engaged in the service of their country during the great rebellion of the South. By J. R. Bartlett, Providence, 1867]

sites.google.com

Eric Wittenberg's excellent evaluation, which, I think, may be considered the 'last word':

Rantings of a Civil War Historian » Brig. Gen. Alfred N. Duffié

civilwarcavalry.com

 

[Luke Freet]

1863: Ordered a charge at the Battle of Kelly's Ford, Virginia

Duffie served under Averell in the battle. According to Sears, Duffie's aggressive actions against the lone confederate brigade of cavalry (Fitz Lee's) could have led to victory had Averell not had him arrested for disobeying orders in making the charge.

 

[Cavalier]

He certainly seems to have rubbed quite a few people the wrong way. I would like to find out more about his challenging Fitz John Porter to a duel.

John