US Soldier killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Darris enlisted on August 27, 1861, with the 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment. Between June 2, 1862 to April 17, 1863, he was reported as being a deserter. And from August 18, 1863 to November 12, 1863, Darris was in a military hospital due to injuries received from falling off of a horse. He was discharged from volunteer service on May 31, 1865. On September 9, 1875, Darris enlisted into the regular army at Cincinnati, OH. His listed civilian occupation was fireman. Darris was described as 5'6", blue eyes, brown hair with a dark complexion. On October 29, 1875, Darris reported for duty at Ft Totten, Dakota Territory and was assigned to Company E, 7th US Cavalry Regiment. At the Battle of the Little Bighorn Company E was attached to LTC George Armstrong Custer's battalion. Darris was killed during the battle. Burial details found many members of Company E in an area below Last Stand Hill. One burial detail reported finding approximately 28 bodies from Company E in an area called Deep Ravine, They claimed the bodies were buried where they had been found. This burial has become one of several battlefield mysteries. In attempt to locate the Deep Ravine burial site, several modern day excavations were conducted. No evidence of any burials were found. Lakota/Cheyenne accounts of the battle and later battlefield archeological digs revealed evidence that Company E conducted what appeared to be a well organized and hard fought rearguard action towards Last Stand Hill from the area of the Little Bighorn River. It is likely that Darris' unidentified remains were first buried where they had been found. In 1881 all known battlefield burials were moved to a mass grave on top of Last Stand Hill. On November 7, 1877, Darris' unnamed child received a survivor's pension. In 1904, a soldier's boot was found approximately 200 yards northeast of Medicine Tail Coulee. The boot had the initials of J.D. on them. Only two men in Custer's command had those initials...John Dugan Company L and John Darris. In 1928, a complete skeleton of a soldier was discovered not too far from where the boot had been found.
US Soldier killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Darris enlisted on August 27, 1861, with the 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment. Between June 2, 1862 to April 17, 1863, he was reported as being a deserter. And from August 18, 1863 to November 12, 1863, Darris was in a military hospital due to injuries received from falling off of a horse. He was discharged from volunteer service on May 31, 1865. On September 9, 1875, Darris enlisted into the regular army at Cincinnati, OH. His listed civilian occupation was fireman. Darris was described as 5'6", blue eyes, brown hair with a dark complexion. On October 29, 1875, Darris reported for duty at Ft Totten, Dakota Territory and was assigned to Company E, 7th US Cavalry Regiment. At the Battle of the Little Bighorn Company E was attached to LTC George Armstrong Custer's battalion. Darris was killed during the battle. Burial details found many members of Company E in an area below Last Stand Hill. One burial detail reported finding approximately 28 bodies from Company E in an area called Deep Ravine, They claimed the bodies were buried where they had been found. This burial has become one of several battlefield mysteries. In attempt to locate the Deep Ravine burial site, several modern day excavations were conducted. No evidence of any burials were found. Lakota/Cheyenne accounts of the battle and later battlefield archeological digs revealed evidence that Company E conducted what appeared to be a well organized and hard fought rearguard action towards Last Stand Hill from the area of the Little Bighorn River. It is likely that Darris' unidentified remains were first buried where they had been found. In 1881 all known battlefield burials were moved to a mass grave on top of Last Stand Hill. On November 7, 1877, Darris' unnamed child received a survivor's pension. In 1904, a soldier's boot was found approximately 200 yards northeast of Medicine Tail Coulee. The boot had the initials of J.D. on them. Only two men in Custer's command had those initials...John Dugan Company L and John Darris. In 1928, a complete skeleton of a soldier was discovered not too far from where the boot had been found.
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