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

United States   U.S. Military    South Carolina    South Carolina Military    South Carolina in the Civil War    South Carolina Civil War Confederate Units 1st through 4th      1st Regiment, South Carolina Rifles (Orr's)

Brief History
1st Regiment Rifles, known as Orr's Rifles and Orr's Regiment, South Carolina Rifles, was organized at Sandy Springs, South Carolina, in July 20, 1861. 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.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

In 1862 there was a reorganization of many military units which affected these companies. See Steve Batson's internet site: "South Carolina's Service in the War Between the States", Orr's First South Carolina Rifles for futher information about these companies and their reorganization into other companies and military units. This website also lists officers of the regiment and companies.


 * Company A (also known as Kowee Riflemen) - Pickens County and Occonee County
 * Company B (also known as Abbeville Minutemen or McDuffie Guards) - Abbeville County
 * Company C (also known as Mountain Boys) - Pickens County and Oconee County
 * Company D (also known as Orr's Rifles) - Anderson County
 * Company E (also known as Oconee Riflemen) -
 * Company F (also known as Blue Ridge Rifles) - Pickens County and Oconee County - Roster
 * Company G (also known as Marshall Riflemen) - Abbeville County
 * Company H (also known as Pee Dee Guards) - Marion County
 * Company I (not created)
 * Company K (also known as Marshall Guards) - Anderson County
 * Company L (also known as Calhoun Guards) - Anderson County

Source Material

 * Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System can be searched by soldier's name or by regiment; includes regimental rosters and additional history of the regiment. This site uses Joseph H. Crute's book, Units of the Confederate States Army, as their main source for the regiment history. Family History Library book 973 M2crua,, WorldCat.
 * Footnote.com (A subscription website, but is available for use at the Family History Library and some Family History Centers). It has digital Civil War soldier service records and brief regiment histories (located at the bottom of some of the muster rolls).
 * 1st (Orr's Rifles)Infantry, from The War for Southern Independence in South Carolina. Eastern Digital Resources, accessed 11/19/2010, lists a couple of names from Company C and a brief Regiment history.
 * Orr's Rifles. Internet site, accessed 12/30/2010. Lists brief history according to Robert M. Lyles.  It gives a roster for Company F.
 * "Orr's South Carolina rifles, brief sketch of the famous regiment from the pen of one who fought in its ranks" by J. W. Mattison from Southern Historical Society Papers. XXVII (1899) 157-65. Google Books
 * For some information about Company H see:Pee Dee Light Artillery of Maxcy Gregg's (later Samuel McGowan's) brigade, first South Carolina volunteers (infantry) C. S. A., a historical sketch and roster : to which has been added the rosters of the three Pee Dee infantry companies (from Darlington, Horry and Marion counties) which were supported by the Pee Dee artillery, by Joseph Woods Brunson (University, Alabama : Confederate Pub., c1983)., FHL book 975.7 M2bjr.
 * Caldwell, James F. J. The history of a brigade of South Carolinians, known first as Gregg's brigade and subsequently as McGowan's brigade. Microfiche of original published: Philadelphia : King &amp; Baird, Printers, 1866. 247 p., Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1990., . The regiments which composed Gregg's Brigade of South Carolina Infantry, as it was commonly known, and which always composed McGowan's Brigade, were the following: the First South Carolina Volunteers, the Twelfth South Carolina Volunteers, the Thirteenth South Carolina Volunteers, the Fourteenth South Carolina Volunteers, and Orr's regiment of rifles, also from South Carolina.