Samuel A. & Amand C. "Smith" Duff Family

---

This is a family portrait of Samuel A. and Amanda "Smith" Duff's family, shot about 1898 on Indian Creek near Belfast Mills. Back row, left to right, are Henry A. Duff (1876-1945), Myrtle Jane Duff (1880-1953), Bessie Claire Duff (1885-abt 1958) and Samuel Roy Duff (1883-1956). Middle row, left to right, are Mattie Graham Duff (1889-abt 1956), Amanda C. Smith Duff (1848-1919; daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Jane L. Smith, married Sam 12 Feb 1869), and Samuel Adams Duff (1846-1924). Front, Joseph E. Duff (1891-1966; Judge in Lebanon in 50s and 60s). Missing are Robert L. Duff (1870-1890), Lucien Duff (abt 1872-?; lived to old age), Thomas Duff (1873-1878), and Mary F. Duff (1874-1880).

---

---

This is a picture of Samuel Adams Duff taken about 1917 in Tazewell. Sam was a private in Co. C, 37th Virginia Infantry, one of Stonewall's foot cavalry. He enlisted shy of his 15th birthday, and fought in all the actions of the 37th Va. up through the spring of 1864, except for a brief spell when he was laid up with measles. Cpl. Duff was captured in the angle at Spottsylvania Courthouse, transported to Ft. Delware as a P.O.W., and was exchanged in Sep 1864 "so sick he nearly died" from typhoid fever. He survived and recuperated at home, then returned to the abbreviated 37th at Petersburg for the last few months of the war. He walked home after the breakthrough with his musket, which survived until a fire in the old home place in 1956. His obituary stated he was buried on a hilltop next to Amanda's grave that he planted with flowers himself, "wrapped in his 'mantle of grey' to await that roll call which he will answer as unafraid as did he obey the orders of the immortal 'Stonewall' in the days that tried men's souls".

Samuel Adams Duff was the s/o John G.& Polly Duff. On 12 Feb 1869 in Russell Co., VA he married Amanda C. Smith, the d/o Thomas J. Smith & Jane L. Branson.