Person:Gillett Darragh (1)

Served throughout the Civil War, and was a prisoner in both Andersonville and Libby prisons.

Obituary^S5
Died, Feb. 22, of consumption, at the residence of his brother, Mr. Charles Darragh, in this city, Mr. Gillett Darragh, aged 28 years and 12 days.

In July, 1861, Mr. D. enlisted in the 10th Indiana Regiment, and went forth to fight the battles of his country, continuing in service until honorably discharged in June, 1865. During this eventful period her personally participated in several of the most terrific battles of the war. Among these may be specially mentioned the second battle of Bull's Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorville, Antietam, Gettysburg, and tha tnearly continuous succession of most sanguinary struggles from the Wilderness to Spottsylvania Court House.

Soon after the last named battle, being taken prisoner, he was conveyed to Andersonville and thrust into that horrible place of starvation and death whose deliberate and heartless cruelties stand almost alone and unparralleled in the annuls of humanity. The natural vigor of his constitution is shown in the fact that after nine months spent in the loathsome prison pens of Andersonville and Florence respectively, he survived to spend upwards of two years with his friends at home. But the foundations of deadly disease had been permanently liad in his system, and slowly but surely advanced to the fatal consummation.

Nov. 26th, 1866 he was married to Miss Lizzie Blair, since when, the tireless vigils and loving care of the faithful and affectionate wife, have done much to mitigate the sufferings of the dying man. During his last sickness he manifested much anxiety on the subject of religion. And although unable to talk much himself, he always betrayed much intreest and tenderness of feeling when conversed and prayed with. By his own request his name was enrolled as a member of the M. E. Church,-- On the day of his death he said to his wife:

"Dollie, I am going home." She answered, "you are at home." Opening his eyes and looking around , he said, "Yes I know I an at Charlie's house, but I want to go where I will be at rest." His wife, much affected, said "Are you not sorry to leave me." He answered "O, yes, can you not go with me." She replied "No, not now, but I will come after a while" "O tehn," said he, "we shall be so happy, for there will be no more pain or sorrow there." But he is gone, and may the God love sustain and comfort the sorrowing. J.G.C.

19th Indiana Infantry Veteran Personal History^S6

Posted on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

The 19th Indiana Infantry Regiment was composed of over 1,000 volunteers, each one, and their families have a story to tell.

The 19th Indiana Infantry was composed of over 1,000 volunteers who answered President Lincoln’s call to defend the Union. Each man and his family have a story to tell, however time has done much to silence their voices. It is important to remember their sacrifices, and with that in mind, I will narrate some of their experiences.

Gillett Darragh (Co. ‘D’)

Age 21 in 1861:

His prewar occupation is recorded as ‘Boatman’: He was 5 ft 7 inches tall, had hazel eyes and black hair. Census records show he had $0 in wealth.

Darragh enlisted into Company ‘D’ in July 1861. He was captured at the battle of Brawner Farm (August 28, 1862) and eventually paroled at Falls Church, VA in September. He served with the 19th and was captured at the fight of Shady Grove on June 6, 1864 and sent to Andersonville. Darragh was imprisoned at Andersonville for nine months before being transported to Virginia, and in February 1865 was exchanged. He was placed in Company ‘I’ (20th Indiana) and served until being mustered out in June 1865.

After the war Darragh settled in Lawrenceburg, IN and married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Blair in November 1865. However, Darragh suffered the effects of his stay in Andersonville and was no longer healthy. He had acquired tuberculosis. He suffered for the next couple years before dying in February 1868, aged 28. Darragh’s last words to Lizzie were, “I am going to go home where there will be no more pain or sorrow, can you go with me?” Lizzie is reported to have answered, “No, not now, but I will come after a while. Elizabeth Darragh died in April 1870, also a victim of the war. She died of tuberculosis, acquired from her husband.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Gillett Darragh, in Lawrenceburg Public Library District Obituary Finder
   1868.

   Last Name: Darragh
   First Name: Gillett
   Middle Name/Initial:
   Maiden Name:
   Date of Death: 02/22/1868
   Birth Date:
   Spouse: Lizzie Blair
   Survived By: brother Mr Charles Darragh.
   Other: 28 years old. Married in November 26, 1866, to Miss Lizzie Blair
   Cemetery:
   Obituary Source: Press Feb. 27, 1868

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Charles Darragh, in History of Dearborn County, Indiana: her people, industries, and institutions. (Evansville, Ind.: Unigraphic, 1980)
   Page 925.
3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Gillett Darragh, in Historical Data Systems. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles [database online]. (Ancestry.com , 2009)
   1861.

   Last Name: Darragh
   First Name: Gillett
   Middle Name/Initial:
   Maiden Name:
   Date of Death: 02/22/1868
   Birth Date:
   Spouse: Lizzie Blair
   Survived By: brother Mr Charles Darragh.
   Other: 28 years old. Married in November 26, 1866, to Miss Lizzie Blair
   Cemetery:
   Obituary Source: Press Feb. 27, 1868

4. ↑ Gillett Darragh, in American Civil War Soldiers
   1861.

   Name: Gillett Darragh
   Residence: Indiana
   Enlistment Date: 29 Jul 1861
   Rank at enlistment: Private
   State Served: Indiana
   Was POW?: Yes
   Survived the War?: Yes
   Service Record: Enlisted in Company D, Indiana 19th Infantry Regiment on 29 Jul 1861.Mustered out on 18 Oct 1864 at Petersburg, VA.Transferred to the Indiana 20th Infantry Regiment on 18 Oct 1864.
   Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana

5. ↑ Obituary - Gillett Darragh, in Lawrenceburg Press. (Lawrenceburg, Indiana)
   27 Feb 1868.

   See Personal History section.

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Gillett Darragh (Co. ‘D’), in Thomas Verner Blog.

   Gillett Darragh (Co. ‘D’)

7.   Name: Gillett Darragh
   Residence: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
   Enlistment Date: 1 Jan 1864
   Side Served: Union
   State Served: Indiana
   Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 1 January 1864.
   Transferred into Company I, 20th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 1 Jan 1864.
   Mustered Out Company I, 20th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 19 Jun 1865.
   Sources: 76