Summary
Orr's Rifles was a South Carolina infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
| 1st (Orr's) South Carolina Rifle Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Flag of South Carolina | |
| Active | July 20, 1861, to April 10, 1865 |
| Country | Confederate States of America |
| Allegiance | CSA  |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Engagements | American Civil War |
History edit
Formation edit
On 20 July 1861, James Lawrence Orr organized the First South Carolina Rifle Regiment at Sandy Springs. He was elected Colonel; J. Foster Marshall was elected Lt. Colonel, and Daniel A. Ledbetter, Major. Ten companies were recruited in the following districts (counties were known as districts between 1800 & 1868)[1]
| Company: Nickname | District | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| A: "the Keowee Riflemen" | Pickens | J.W. Livingston |
| B: "McDuffie's Guards" | Abbeville | James Perrin |
| C: "the Mountain Boys" | Pickens | J.J. Norton |
| D: "Orr's Rifles" | Anderson | Frank E. Harrison |
| E: "the Oconee Riflemen" | Pickens | Miles M. Norton |
| F: "the Blue Ridge Rifles" | Pickens | Robert A. Hawthorne |
| G: "the Marshall Riflemen" | Abbeville | G. McDuffie Miller |
| H: "the Pee Dee Guards" | Marion | George M. Fairlee |
| I: not created | ||
| K: "the Marshall Guards" | Anderson | George W. Cox |
| L: "the Calhoun Guards" | Anderson | John B. Moore |
The regiment had seen no action by the time Orr left, but the name "Orr's Rifles" stuck throughout the war.
Initial duty edit
First posted to Sullivan's Island, SC to defend Charleston Harbor, others called them the "Pound Cake Regiment" in reference to their "light" garrison duty.[2] The 20th SC Infantry was referred to as the "Poundcake Brigade" on account of limited engagements and they were so close to home, their families could bring them poundcake or other treats.
Transfer to Army of Northern Virginia edit
In April 1862, the full-strength 1,000-man unit was transferred to Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia (ANV). In June, it was incorporated into Gregg's Brigade, of A.P. Hill's Light Division, of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson Corps (often termed the "Left Wing" early in the war).
Surrender edit
Lee surrendered the ANV, including Orr's Rifles, at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865. After three years of combat, the regiment comprised 9 officers and 148 enlisted men.
See also edit
References edit
- Regiment details
- National Park Service
- FamilySearch.org Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
- South Carolina Civil War Relic Room & Military Museum: includes picture of the Regiment's flag Archived 2012-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
- South Carolina Genealogical Society
- Regiment rosters
- National Park Service
- Ancestry.com
This article incorporates public domain material from Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. National Park Service.