Description
This is a wonderful pair of images identified as brothers William and Alexander Orr of Lee County, Virginia. The two brothers would muster with Company G of the 64th Virginia Infantry on the 13th of August, 1862. The 64th would be formed in 1862 following the consolidation of the 21st and 29th Virginia Infantry Battalions. In September of 1863, the regiment would be re-designated to the 64th Virginia Cavalry. The only fight the two brothers would see would be at Cumberland Gap and it wasn’t much of a fight at all. Most of the regiment would surrender on September 9th, 1863, including nearly every member of Company G. William and Alexander were among that number. The two brothers would be confined at Camp Douglas beginning on the 24th of September. William would never leave. He would die from a case of small pox on December 22, 1864. Alexander would remain at the prison without his brother until signing the Oath of Allegiance on June 15, 1865. William is shown dressed in a Richmond Depot jacket in this sixth plate tintype view. He is armed with a M1832 short sword which is unquestionably of Confederate manufacture. The belt and scabbard for the sword can be seen worn around the waist. A period pencil inscription inside the case reads “William Orr Wednesday March 9th, 1863″. Alexander is shown in this ninth plate ambrotype view. He is also dressed in a Richmond Depot jacket which sports script I infantry buttons running down the front of the jacket. A pencil inscription inside the case simply reads “Alexander Orr”. Both views are housed in full leatherette cases. These do come with a binder of research material on the two brothers as well as service records for both men. Great pair of images that I hope will always remain together.
