Capt. John Quincy Marr, the first man to fall for the Southern Cause in the Civil war, was born May 27, 1825, at Warrenton, a small Virginia town situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, or in that section of the State better known as Piedmont Valley. He came from one of the oldest and best known families in the State. His father, who at the time of the war, was Justice of the Peace of his District, was especially well known in Virginia as a public man. His mother, Catherine, was a Miss Horner, also comes from an old and distinguished family of that name.
Capt. Marr's early training, like that of most boys of his day, was at the Public School of his home. Later he went to the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, from which school he graduated at the head of his class in 1846. After graduating-he returned home, was elected Mayor of Warrenton, High Sheriff of the County and Chief Justice of the County before he was 35 years of age. In l86l he was a member of the Virginia Convention, which he left for the field.
In l85O Capt. Marr organized the Warrenton Kifles, a small band of about 100 men, first a Volunteer Company, afterward Company K, 17th Virginia Infantry, C. S. A. This little Company won much notoriety in later years for its bravery.
Capt. Marr, about the 1st of May, l86l, marched his command from Warrenton to Manassas, Va.,where a large number of soldiers were already encamped. on the following day, at his request for immediate action, he with his Company again moved this time to Centerville, Va., where they remained until May 31, l86l, when they marched to Fairfax Court House, Virginia.
At the time of the raid of the Federals (Compeny B. 2d United States Dragoons, Lieut. Thompkins) on Fairfax Court House, that fight in which Capt. Marr lost his life (June l,l86l), the place was poorly guarded by two Virginia Cavalry Companies under Col. R. S. Ewell. Upon the arrival of the Warrenton Rifles they were quartered at different houses, mostly in the center of the town. Capt. Marr making his headquarters in some offices near his command. The facts connected with the fight, although the first of the war, which proved so fatal to Capt. Marr, are briefly told in the following extract from an article written by a Veteran who was a member of the Warrenton Rifles and who was in the fight himself:
"The night of May 31 was sultry to oppressiveness. There was no moon and the clouds obscured ever star, making the darkness intense".
"At 3 o'clock in the morning of June the 1st, Private A. E. Francis, one of our pickets, who had been stationed a half mile northwest of the town, on the Alexandria Turnpike, rushed into our quarters and announced that the enemy was upon us and that a Cavalry force had approached him in the dark, captured his comrade B. F. Florence, and was rapidly making for the town, we tumbled out in short order, gathered out aims and had scarcely gotten into line when we heard the cracking of rifles from the direction of the court House. One of our Cavalry Companies was quartered in the Court House and the other in tne church. Our Captain, who had in the meantime been aroused, new joined us and marched the Company from the front of the church to the left of the same, down to and along the fence, where he halted us. Upon an increase of firing and an evident rush of the troops towards us we were ordered to get over the fence into a clover field, being about the center of the Company, which was in two ranks. Falling back by direction, about 15 yards, we were halted, face to the front and ordered to make ready. This was scarcely done before the Cavalry and we could barely see the form of it, was upon us, some having scaled the fence and others gone through the gate. Ten or twelve snots were fired by our command without orders.
"Part of our Company had spread as far as the gate and attempted to resist the passage of the Cavalry by charging at them with guns without bayonets, but they were easily ridden down and scattered. I believe that all of those who left the Court House yard and rode through our command were our own troops. They neither fired on us nor attempted to use the few sabres they had.
"About this time Capt. Marr, who was just in the rear of us gave the command; "Halt". This was the last word heard from him by any of the command. About 7 o'clock in the morning the body of John Quincy Marr was found in the rank clover, stark and cold. His heart had been pierced by a "Minie Ball"
Great was the sorrow felt by his comrades and soldiers when it was known that Capt. Marr was no more.
His remains were carried to Warrenton, where they were buried in the Cemetery there. A magnificent monument, a gift from the people of the town, marks the place where he lies. This monument, though now green with age, is one of the first noticed by the visitors on entering the grounds. It bears this inscription: JOHN QUINCY MARR. Captain of the Warrenton Riflemen. Born May 27, 1825, and fell on the 1st day of June, l86l, at Fairfax Court House Virginia. Upon the Threshold of his State, This Virginian met the Invader and Was the First to Fall for the Rights of the South.
Capt. Marr was never married. Of this old and distinguished Virginia family only a few survive. His name will always be held in reverence by the people of his State, "He the first to fall for his Rights"
(Copied by M. L. Reese, Augusta, Ga.) July 13th, 1922.