"C" and "D" Co, 1st North Carolina Cavalry, Stuarts Cav Corps, ANV, CSA & 12th Missouri Cavalry, SW Cav Brig, Sheby's Div, Prices Army CSA

As a young lad, I became very interested in the War of Northern Aggression. There was always rumor that we had Confederate ancestry. My grandmother was the source of much of this. I can still remember anytime she did not care for the rude or otherwise un-Southern actions of others, she would refer to that person or group as “Jayhawkers.” This was originally a derisive term for those who made war against the women and children of the South during the war, particularly in Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and other border states. The first elementary school I attended was Jefferson Davis Elementary in Dallas, Texas. Jefferson Davis had been the President of the Confederate States of America. With influences like this, was there any wonder that I would come to love and honor the traditions of the South? If that were not enough, I later found out about three brothers. My great-great grandfather was one of the three. I have yet to find pictures of any of the three, but in their memory, I have listed pictures of three men from their regiment.

Three Brothers

In accordance with a resolution of the General Assembly on December 20, 1862, a "Roll of Honor" was compiled to record the names of North Carolina's Confederate troops who served during the war years. The project was placed under the supervision of Major James H. Foote of the Adjutant General's Department. Nine volumes were completed before the project was abandoned in 1864. Each regiment and battalion was directed to complete a form similar to a muster roll but many apparently failed to do so. As a result, there is no roll of honor at all for many units and for others, only a fragmentary roll.

John Nathan Orr was born January 1, 1832 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He married Dorcas Catherine Starnes on December 3, 1857. John and Dorcas were blessed with two children, Amanda Elizabeth Orr and Laura Savannah Orr. Amanda Orr would eventually marry Wallace A. Biggers the line of which compatriot Michael Biggers would be born. John Orr enlisted in the Confederate Army at age 30 on Feb. 28, 1862. He mustered in as Private and was appointed Artificer in September of 1863. He was killed in action at Jack's Shop, Madison County, Virginia, which is now known as Rochelle, Virginia on September 22, 1863. He is listed on a Roll of Honor for the Regiment. John Orr had two brothers who also served the Confederacy. The Orr brothers all served in Company C, 9th Regiment., North Carolina State Troop. When the regiment was mustered into Confederate service, it was known as 1st Regiment, N. C. Cavalry, but referred to as the Mecklenburg Rangers!

David Karr Orr mustered into the Confederate Army as a corporal on June 12, 1861. He is listed as “Present” on all Company Muster Rolls except when on special detail or when wounded. He was admitted to the C. S. A. General Hospital in Danville, Virginia on July 27, 1864 with gun shot wounds to the feet. On February 22, 1865 he was retired to the Invalid Corps. He is listed on a Roll of Honor for the Regiment.

James Ira Orr mustered in as a private on July 29, 1861. He is listed as “Present” on all Company Muster Rolls except when on detached service when he was taking charge of horses that were purchased for the regiment. He was killed on August 1, 1863 during battle at Brandy Station, Virginia. He is listed on a Roll of Honor for the Regiment.