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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

John Duffey

Private John Duffey, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 24, 1864 at Ashepoo River, South Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 24, 1864

Private John Duffey was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 24, 1864 at Ashepoo River, South Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry. Duffey was 28 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 21, 1897, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Farrier.

Duffey was born on March 17, 1836 in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Duffey died on August 21, 1923, at the age of 87. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Records also list him as Duffy, John.

Duffey is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Volunteered as a member of a boatcrew which went to the rescue of a large number of Union soldiers on board the stranded steamer Boston, and with great gallantry assisted in conveying them to shore, being exposed the entire time to a heavy fire from a Confederate battery.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Places

  • Born: New Bedford — map
  • Died: New Bedford — map
  • Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. March 17, 1836
    Born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts
  2. May 24, 1864
    Act of valor — Ashepoo River, South Carolina
    Age 28. Company B, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry
  3. January 21, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 21, 1923
    Died
    Age 87.
  5. Resting place
    Oak Grove Cemetery
    New Bedford, Massachusetts

Biography

John Duffey (March 17, 1836 – August 21, 1923) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Duffey received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Ashepoo River in South Carolina on 24 May 1864. He was honored with the award on 21 January 1897.

From the Wikipedia article “John Duffey (soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on May 24, 1864

George Washington Brush Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WD William Downey Private · Army Civil War · 1864 David L. Gifford Private · Army Civil War · 1864 MM Michael C. Murphy Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 PS Patrick Scanlan Private · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

LG Levi B. Gaylord Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 WO William Henry Osborne Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Samuel Cole Wright Private · Army Civil War · 1862 JR Jeremiah Regan Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1862 JL James Hezikiah Luther Private · Army Civil War · 1863 William D. Newland Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.