Cyrus, Darwin, and Robert McDuffee
Three brothers named McDuffee, Cyrus, Darwin, and Robert, served in the Normal School Company. Darwin McDuffee iwas born in February 1841 in McDuffeetown the nickname for a major crossroads in the town of Varick in Seneca County, where the Methodist Episcopal Church stands. He was 1 of 13 children born to Nelson McDuffee, a carpenter with a $1000 estate, and the former Mary J. Warne. The McDuffee children grew up quite familiar with the children of other neighboring families, including Burroughs and Barrick.
In 1860, Darwin worked as a farm laborer for the Christopher family, one of the wealthiest in Varick. Darwin's older sister Lorana worked for the Christopher's also, as a servant. Darwin's older brother Robert, who was born in 1835, had recently married a girl named Emma, and moved to the nearby town of Romulus, where he worked as a wagon master. Another brother, Mordecai (Cyrus) McDuffee, a year older than Darwin, worked for a short time as a cooper, but then joined Sidney Burroughs at the New York State Normal School in August of 1861.
All three brothers joined the Normal School Company on August 30, 1862. Darwin became ill and injured his back shortly after the company arrived in the field. He spent almost all of his time in hospitals in Washington and Baltimore, and was discharged February 2, 1863.
Cyrus and Robert continued with Company E. Cyrus was slightly wounded in April 1864, probably while guarding a train going to the front. The 44th had been assigned to Alexandria, Virginia in January 1864 for th purpose of protecting the daily trains to the front from Confederate guerillas. Cyrus later returned to duty, and was transferred to the 140th NY, Company E, on October 11, 1864. He mustered out with that regiment on June 3, 1865.
Robert McDuffee became close friends with James Woodworth during the early days of 1864. In March of 1864, Robert obtained a short furlough and rushed home after he had received a letter that said his wife was gravely ill. She recovered, and he returned to the regiment, which was still in its winter quarters in Alexandria. On April 28, the 44th boarded a train and rode to the front, in anticipation of the spring campaigns. Only a week later, the regiment was fighting at Saunder's Field in the Wilderness. Robert came through this battle well, but nobody in the regiment was prepared for the next battle. Robert joined the charge at Laurel Hill, and was probably positioned near Woodworth, a member of the Color Guard. Almost half the regiment was lost as it charged up the hill against entrenched infantrymen. Robert was seriously wounded during the battle and was captured by the Confederates, who had gained control of the field. No one form the company ever saw him again. It was reported that died in Richmond on June 15, 1864, while a prisoner of war.
Darwin returned to Varick and married Martha, with whom he had two daughters, Minnie and Lottie. In the 1880, the family lived in the town of Covert, where Darwin had become a farmer, carpenter, and joiner. In 1895 he married Elizabeth, his first wife having died. Elizabeth had been born in January, 1863. Darwin remained strong until April of 1919, when he suffered a serious fall. He entered Ithaca Hospital, and died a month later, on May 11, 1919, at the age of 78. He was survived by his two daughters, Minnie Rumsey of Colton, California, and Miss Lottie McDuffee of Interlaken. Darwin was buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Interlaken.
Less is known about Cyrus' later life. The year after he returned home form the war, he moved to Seneca Falls and married Kate Swartz of that village, on November 7, 1866. She apparently died, and Cyrus remarried, this time to Anna M. Hubbard on October 2, 1873. Cyrus later moved to Oneida, NY, and was still living in 1911, when Nash's regimental history was published.