Description

These two images came out of southwest Virginia many years ago.  Pictured are two brothers, William Orr to the left and Alexander Orr to the right.  They are both identified in the cases.  Inside William’s case is written “William Orr Wednesday March 9^th 1863.”  Inside Alexander’s case is written “Alexander Orr.”  Both brothers enlisted on August 13, 1862 in Lee County, VA as privates in Co. G, 64^th VA Infantry.  William was listed as a POW on September 9, 1863 at Cumberland Gap, TN.  He was confined at Camp Douglas, IL on September 24, 1863.  He died of smallpox on December 22, 1864, and is buried in Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, IL.  Alexander was listed as AWOL on May 8, 1863 and as a POW at Cumberland Gap, TN on September 9, 1863.  Alexander was also confined at Camp Douglas, IL on September 24, 1863, but he survived and took the oath of allegiance on June 15, 1865.  Alexander died in 1919 and is buried in Greenville, TX.

William is pictured in his shell jacket with gilded buttons in a sixth plate tintype.  He is wearing a Union sword belt and holding an artillery short sword.  The shape of the handle makes me suspect Confederate manufacture.   There is solarization to the image that is not too dark, and it does not detract from the great content.  Artillery short swords are very uncommon in Confederate images.  Alexander is pictured in his shell jacket with gilded buttons in a ninth plate ambrotype.  His hand is across his chest.  Both images are housed in complete leatherette cases with repaired spines.  This is a great opportunity to own two identified Confederate brother images.