South Carolina 1st Infantry Regiment (Orr's Rifles)

Historical Notes:
The South Carolina 1st Regiment Rifles, known as Orr's Rifles, was organized at Sandy Springs, South Carolina, in July, 1861.

[From Rivers’ Account of the Raising of the Troops:]
The number of volunteer companies for Orr’s Regiment of Rifles was so large towards the close of the year that a Battalion was formed from them on Sullivan’s island in December, viz: the First Battalion of Rifles, Lieut. Col. Jno. V. Moore, Major Thos. H. Boggs.

Its members were recruited in the counties of Abbeville, Pickens, Anderson, and Marion. The unit was first stationed on Sullivan's Island and called by the other troops "The Pound Cake Regiment" because of its light duty. Then in April, 1862, it moved to Virginia with 1,000 men. Assigned to General Gregg's and McGowan's Brigade, it fought with the army from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor . Later the regiment endured the hardships of the Petersburg trenches and the Appomattox operations. Of the 537 engaged at Gaines' Mill , fifty-nine percent were killed, wounded or missing. The unit reported 116 casualties at Second Manassas and 170 at Fredericksburg , then lost forty-nine percent of the 233 at Chancellorsville and three percent of the 366 at Gettysburg . There were 12 killed and 81 wounded at The Wilderness , 15 killed, 36 wounded, and 44 missing at Spotsylvania , 3 killed and 34 wounded at Deep Bottom , and 9 killed and 37 wounded at Poplar Springs Church . It surrendered 9 officers and 148 men. Officers:
Colonels Daniel A. Ledbetter, James W. Livingston, J. Foster Marshall, George M. Miller, James L. Orr, and James M. Perrin; Lieutenant Colonels William M. Hadden, F.E. Harrison, Joseph J. Norton, and James T. Robertson; and Majors John B. Moore and Leonard Rogers. Assignments:
General Jenkins' and Bratton's Brigade.
Service:
Seven Days Battles VA (25 JUN - 1 JUL 1862)
2nd Manassas VA (28 - 30 AUG 1862)
Chantilly VA (1 SEP 1862)
Sharpsburg VA (17 SEP 1862)
Shepherdstown Ford (20 SEP 1862)
Castleman's Ferry (3 NOV 1862)
Fredericksburg VA (13 DEC 1862)
Chancellorsville (1-4 MAY 1863)
Gettysburg PA (1-3 JUL 1863)
Falling Waters (14 JUL 1863)
Bristoe Campaign (9 - 22 OCT 1863)
Mine Run Campaign VA (NOV - DEC 1863)
The Wilderness VA (5 - 6 MAY 1864)
Spotsylvania Court House VA (8 - 21 MAY 1864)
North Anna VA (23 - 26 MAY 1864)
Cold Harbor VA (1 - 3 JUN 1864)
Petersburg Siege VA (JUN 1864 - APR 1865)
First Squirrel Level Road VA (30 SEP 1864)
Jones Farm VA (30 SEP 1864)
First Pegram's Farm VA (1 OCT 1864)
Five Forks VA (1 APR 1865)
Appomattox Court House VA (9 APR 1865)
Roster:
Co. A, from Abbeville, Capt. W. S. Kerr; Co. B, from Pickens, Capt. R. A. Thompson; Co. C, from Pickens, Capt. S. P. Dendy; Co. D, from Anderson, Capt. D. L. Cox; Co. E, from Pickens, Capt. R. E. Bowen; Co. F, from Anderson, Capt. D. L. Donnald. This Battalion became, with additional companies, the 2d Regiment of Rifles.
Company A - Abbeville District (County), a few from Laurens District (County) and Newberry District (County)
Company B - Pickens District (County) now Oconee County
Company C - Pickens District (County), now inOconee County
Company D - Anderson District (County) and Pickens District (County)
Company E - Pickens District (County), Anderson District District (County), and Greenville District (County)
Company F - Pickens District (County), Anderson District (County), Abbeville District (County)
Company G - Anderson District (County), Greenville District (County), and a few from Georgia
Company H - Pickens District (County)
Company I - Pickens District (Seigler says there was no Company I)
Company K - Abbeville District (County), Anderson District (County) and Pickens District (County)
Company L (possibly also known as the Butler Guards) - Anderson District (County), a few from Greenville District (County) and Spartanburg District (County)
Bibliography for Research: