Alfred N. Duffi%C3%A9

Alfred Napolon Alexander Duffi was a FrenchAmerican soldier and diplomat who served in the Crimean War and the American Civil War.

Duffi was born in Paris. Several claims about his early life seem to be untrue that he graduated from the cole Spciale Militaire de SaintCyr, that he fought in the Austrian War of 1859, that he was awarded the Legion dHonneur though he wore it in several photographs, or that his father was a count. It is known that Duffi joined Frances Imperial Cavalry in 1852, being assigned to the 6th Dragoon regiment. As a member of this unit, he served during the Crimean War, seeing action at the Battle of Balaclava and the Battle of Chernaya River. He proved to be a skilled noncommissioned officer and rose through the ranks. In 1859, Duffi earned a commission as a sublieutenant with the 3rd Hussar cavalry regiment. However, for unclear reasons, he soon resigned his commission and left France for the United States. For leaving the army before his resignation was accepted, Duffi was charged with desertion and sentenced in absentia to ten years of imprisonment. After coming to the United States he ma

Source: Wikipedia